StuckInSD

I got a Miner's Mike at Boomers to myself. That's about it. ... I am not proud.

I love the wave effect on the halfpipe. Wet or dry, it looks like fun!

Enterprises give me migraines. There's something about perfect circles that make centripetal forces unbearable. That's probably why we don't see them on roller coasters.

A nice, long ride for once. Love this change of pace!

Oi, this time I know what I'm saying. Even with Santa Clarita growing (though Six Flags is labeled to be in Valencia... which I guess is a local neighborhood), Magic Mountain still has a large lot to the east, a ridiculously big parking lot to the north (which they've expanded into already), and hilly wilderness west and south of the park, along with the hole Deja-Vu left behind. Unless the city has plans in development for those aforementioned areas, Six Flags, unlike a majority of SoCal parks, has ample room to grow if they really need to. Which I guess won't be for a long time, since stacking rides on top of each other on top of a mountain seems to be working fine at the moment. Now then, EPCOT. I know there's been rumors that Soarin' in DCA might turn into "Soarin' Over the Horizon" when/if they replace the old show, but it looks like those rumors have spread to The Land pavilion as well. According to Screamscape, there's been office trailers and containers being moved around behind the pavilion, apparently making way for new construction behind the building. I don't live anywhere near Orlando, so I have no way of confirming or denying this. But given how dated the current film is, and that it really doesn't fit in at EPCOT, I think it would be a much nicer, suitable fit, should this rumor be true and they go ahead with it. ... at this point I think I'll just sit in the corner and wait for things to die down while I think about what I've done.

With the advancements Intamin has made since then, just imagine what they could do now if they decided to come back to the idea...

It's not a concept people seem to be able to grasp. Most people want to believe that "their favorite" resort is taking cash away from the other, when in reality, the more attractions they all build, the more money is brought into Orlando as a whole. A concept I didn't really grasp until given a thorough talk-to. I do sincerely apologize about eluding to this nonsensical topic when I didn't know any better; I had absolutely no idea it would snowball into what it is now. That concept could be applied to SoCal as well. There's even a Southern California "package" that includes the major parks plus the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, so everyone gets benefits from the other. Though, unlike Orlando, there's not that much space to expand around unless you level some city blocks in any direction... or you're Six Flags and you're in the freaking mountains where no one else is. Btw, looking at all of the food, drinks and desserts makes me super envious of you guys. We got Culinary Week in San Diego, but it's just not the same as an international smorgasbord.

Absolutely: Disneyland Resort (California Screamin' eluded me last time...) Belmont Park Possibly: Legoland Knott's Aquatica Maybe: Sea World Universal Studios Hollywood Castle Park Scandia Family Fun Center Adventure City Santa Monica Pier Six Flags Magic Mountain The Wave Knott's Soak City

3,000,000 sq. feet... so a fancy way of saying 69 acres. Still, having another Legoland in the world is never a bad thing! They always put out something good, so this should not disappoint.

Oddly enough, I actually thought Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott's was unsafe, when I first rode. This was before the refurbishment, but even then there wasn't anything particularly bad. Sure, some water splashed out on the turns and it was pretty old, but I didn't notice any cracks or leaking. But the lack of a seatbelt... that had me nervous. Also, it was a first that I went on a ride without a seatbelt. And when you go over the final drop, with your scrawny friend sitting in front of you, and you don't feel like squishing him due to gravity, I panicked a little bit. But after another ride, I got over it. Plus, it also prepped me for the evil spinning wheel of death people call an "enterprise"... and its lack of seatbelts.

I agree. AP holders would take up all the reservations WAY in advance if they could. I suspect that when the system comes to DLR, it will be heavily favored to hotel guests and 1-day ticket holders. Which of course will lead to insane amounts of bitching from AP holders... Isn't this the way WDW already works? Resort Guests get special benefits over people (AP or otherwise) not staying on property. Really, the system works perfectly fine and would suit Disneyland great! DLR has a network of "Good Neighbor" hotels literally around the resort, so even people not directly on the property still get some sort of benefit. But still, FP+ would be perfect for not just international and out-of-state guests, but locals too. I can only go to Disneyland so many times in a year (was gonna get an AP, but decided against it), so having the ability to actually ride the rides I want without having to sprint to get a piece of paper (that I've managed to lose many times before) would be a god-send. Now... it's just a matter of actually fitting it into the park.

Isn't the Calico Mine Train also built in-house? I know Bud Hurlbut collaborated with Arrow to design some rides, but I think this was independent from that. He had to sell his personal belongings and convince Walter Knott to suspend rent so he could have enough funds to complete the ride. Now it's literally a cornerstone in Knott's Berry Farm, and with the recent refurb, is running better than ever.

^I've always thought of Mantis' colors as a rejected X-Men ride.

This picture alone has me excited. Might be total BS, but if that's what I think it is, it's gonna be awesome to see Les Machines de l'île get involved with this.

The filters almost fooled me until I noticed all of the Oompa-Loompas standing around. Still seems much more colorful than what you'd typically see! Like a Legoland for older groups... and without the LEGOs.

That last picture brings back memories of the migraine I got on Orbiter at CGA. Glad to see that the park is doing great, though!

How true that is. Lovin' the TR, by the way!

I think I got it now. Thanks for the correction, Robb. Of course, at the moment I can only dream of going to Epcot, so I can only imagine how it's like to experience it for the first time. I've always wanted to take a ride on Mission: SPACE and visit The Living Seas and World Showcase (I'd also mention Test Track, but I got a taste of that with Radiator Springs Racers... and its 2-hour wait). I remember reading about WestCOT and how epic it was supposed to be... then we got Eisner's California Adventure (oh how sad I was... thankfully Iger fixed it up). But even if WestCOT did happen, it probably wouldn't be the same as EPCOT is today: a truly all-encompassing experience blending the worlds of then, now, and what's to come, always transforming and evolving like every good Disney park should be. So there. Totally different experience from Universal's experience. Not that Universal really comes close, anyways (the comparison is even worse over here).

... and now I feel like I got the cone of shame. Sorta had to know that talking out of my bum would spark something. It's not that I'm calling Gringotts and Diagon Alley Disney-slayers ("casting a shadow" definitely wasn't the right thing to say), but you gotta acknowledge that it's there. And it's not that Universal has finally trumped Disney or anything, but rather that they got something that grabs a lot of attention, which in any case will just encourage more ideas to be made, more rides to be built, and more happy visitors regardless of what park you go to that's nearby. I have no doubt in my mind that the new Frozen ride will be a smash hit; Maelstrom was getting old and needed a good reboot. But I know what Disney is capable of, and given the absolutely monstrous, almost cult-like following of Frozen, I can't help but feel that they can really buckle-down and deliver a truly one-of-a-kind ride experience that Mystic Manor, Journey To The Centre of The Earth and other rides of the like have been able to. Finally... yep, just realized that Shamu is next door to Mickey, so I'll just shut up now.

Maybe it was Arkansas Twister at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls? Or maybe Screamin' Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis?

Huh. They still got to patch the hole up and a bunch of track to tear down. Nice to see that the lift is underway, tho.

With Gringotts casting a shadow next door, it wouldn't surprise me if Disney went all-out on this ride. I also agree that they shouldn't use the Omnimover; sorta killed The Little Mermaid for me. What I'd love to see is a trackless variant akin to Mystic Manor, with 2-3 sleds sliding around an ice-covered Arendelle. That'd be a perfect fit, I think.

Yep, everything (except water parks, oddly enough) is year-round. Which, for most folks, that's a god-send. So, yay, more park time... and tourists. Because when other parks close for the season, those park-goers like to plan trips to my neck of the woods, and I get to deal with this: Of course, Disneyland gets the worst crowds ever period. But that also happens at Sea World, Legoland, Knott's, Universal, Magic Mountain and just about everywhere that has an animal, exhibit or roller coaster when it's off-season everywhere else. And due to college and work, my only time off is when it's off-season or when school's out. So, for my "off-season", I tend to watch movies, cook, play videogames excessively, bake, chop wood and plan out what days are least crowded at the parks.

I'm more into Johnny Rocket's, so no sympathy from me. Still better than cockroach-infested Knott's Chicken.

So... how 'bout dat Rougarou? Any recent updates?