Three

Start Programs Accessories Paint File Open your picture. Image Stretch/Skew (input percentage of the size you want. If you want it bigger or smaller, hit edit, undo, and then pick a new size). File SAVE AS (pick a new file name -- you don't want to save over your old, biggie-sized photo). Voila -- you now have a picture of a postable size, without playing around with programs you don't already have.

If you look at Robb's and Elissa's lists you'll notice there are more American coasters than foreign coasters in their top ten anyway. Robb Steel: America, 6 to 4 Robb Wood: America, 8 to 4 Elissa Steel: America, 8 to 1 Elissa Wood: Europe, 5 to 4 Still, I think this is a topic worth discussing. There is an attitude in these parts that "OMG, my experience pwns yours". That some people's opinions are more equal than others as evidenced by ride count. So the more traveled people get the most credibility. Generalizations can be made on which coasters rock and which coasters suck (and where the rockin'est coasters tend to be located). So people lose perspective. There are fun, unique coasters everywhere. In fact, that's why people build these things in the first place -- to entertain. Fun rides get blasted because they're not as fun as other rides. When really, how many truly horrible rides are there out there? Not that many. There's an assumption that if everybody had the same amount of experience as ______, then they would have similar opinions to _______. Hell, has anybody here ever heard of the word "taste"? Milliage will vary. ...I think I'm going off on a tangent. Sorry. Anyway, wanting to close this because it's commenting on complaining? Christ, didn't these forums used to be nice and laid back? Since when do we have to start clamping down on every little topic, calling it pointless or redundant, sucking all the fun out of this place? It's a frickin' message board. It's all about discussion. If people take objection to the stance of the OP, let 'em discuss it out. Make good points on each side. That's what message boards are for. Clamping down on this thread would just be silly. Lighten up.

What's wrong with Aligator Alley? It's like Florida's very own friggin' autobahn! ...not that I'm, er, advocating illegal activity.

Next question: why? Seriously. Why was it in the plans for one and not the other?

Huh... didn't think y'all liked SheiKra all that much. Great lists though.

The thread on a potential park in Spain got me thinking. Disney will continue making parks around the world. That's given. But what locations would make the most sense economically for them to expand to? The biggest rumors I've seen lately are Shanghai and Australia. And I'm not sure how much sense either makes, really. As to Shanghai, yes -- China has a lot of people, and the economy there is expanding rapidly. But what kind of access is there to the park in Hong Kong? Would a second park in China take away business from the first? Or would it only boost interest, especially if the parks had sufficiently different attractions? And Australia? Sure, it has a lot of tourism, but most people who visit Australia aren't going to be going for Mickey. And does Australia really have enough people to really warrant a major Disney investment? I'm not sure. But what about other locations? I think in the next ten or twenty years, perhaps an India park would make sense. Or perhaps Singapore. Something to hit the South / Southeast Asian market. Or South America? Rio? Perhaps even South Africa at some point? I have no idea whether these really make sense now, but it's a speculative start. Perhaps somebody more learned in global economics could offer better suggestions.

Man, this is an old thread. Why the revival exactly?

When I went last year, I was thinking I would have to make a choice between these parks. I am immensly glad that I got to do both. I would recommend, if at all possible, that anyone visiting the area do the same. Just because BGE is utterly fantastic, doesn't make PKD any less fun. But yeah, do PKD first.

I hate to bring this up, as it certainly doesn't apply to all youngin's here. But perhaps the stating opinions as facts has to do with a lack of maturity on the part of certain posters. There comes a point in one's life where one is able to take a step back and realize their opinions are just that. But that generally doesn't happen until late in one's teens... at the earliest (and if at all). Just keep in mind that perhaps some of the posters here aren't ready yet. And just so it doesn't seem like I'm making a blanket statement here, I've been genuinely surprised by many of the 13 and 14 year olds on these boards. It certainly doesn't apply to all. But perhaps it applies to some.

I was? I guess once you go Kraken, you never go backen?

Windstorm at Old Town. Because: 1) No annual passes anymore 2) I am desperately craving coasters these days. 3) I'm saving my money for trips that will occur in June and July. 4) I hadn't ridden it before, and figured I might as well. 5) I was slightly inebriated. It was a hell of a lot better than I expected too. But with any luck, my next efforts should be a bit more impressive (and in states I don't already have credits in, too). Note: I may have the Windstorm credit now, but I still don't have a Neon credit.

I was just saying, a lot of people seem to think it's a screwup. And that's practically impossible. Didn't say I had answers I suspect somebody will provide the answer someday though. Or at the very least, a small handful of rumors will crop up.

Aw... so if I get married somewhere else, I can't use my membership in the "marriage club" to find out what's in the box? I would have to divorce and remarry and convince the new chick to marry me at WDW? What a rip.

I don't see how it could possibly be an accident though. These tracks come prefabricated. They'll only fit a certain way. You can't just mess up where the pieces go -- things just wouldn't fit together. It's gotta be intentional. The real question is... why?

Just keep in mind: Kumba sees a lot of ass.

I think I have officially convinced the SO not to MISS OUT. Hooray!

Oh, I forgot to mention the Crystal Beach Cyclone. I mean... jeez... even the suckiest coaster around these days is still... you know... around these days.

Hurler is down? Meh. That's the worst woodie at the park (Scooby is cute, and Rebel Yell and Grizzly are frickin' fantastic). I would recommend Busch Gardens, as quite simply it is the most beautiful park I've been to. It's hard to describe how well the theming is done. But not only that, the park is in a gorgeous environment in the first place. Florida parks may have good theming, but it's all just artificial plastic, concrete, and steel erected above flat land. Busch Gardens? Absolutely gorgeous. Both the theming and the area. And the coasters are pretty dern great. Big Bad Wolf is a kickass suspended coaster, the beamers are... not as good as some, but well worth a ride anyway. And Loch Ness Monster is just plain iconic. That's not to say PKD is a bad park -- I enjoyed my visit there a hell of a lot. And they have quite a selection of coasters (with a few stinkers in the mix). Grizzly, Avalanche, Anaconda, and yes, Hypersonic were all fantastic. And Drop Zone managed to freak me the hell out (of course, drop rides are about the only rides that can do that to me anymore). It's a fantastic park... but Busch Gardens Williamsburg is fantastic^100. Oh, and don't ride Tomb Raider if you have testicles.

Three times? Pfft. Me and my friends had a 5 person orgy going one night, back when they didn't make riders get back in line for a reride. We tapped that ass fourteen times, baby!

To be overrated, a coaster must have ratings that are higher than you think it deserves. And yeah, several people in this thread have missed the point on that. I would say Hulk is rather overrated. And hell, so is Volcano. They're good coasters, but they're not outstanding like I tend to read they are. The real gem at PKD is Avalanche

Forget Hades? Riiight. I'll see if my powers of persuasion can get the cogs turning on Avalanche as well. edit: Okay, now that I've seen the video, I'm going on hunger strike if I can't get the girl over to this park.

Just when I think I've got a fair amount of knowledge about something, I learn something new. In this instance, I had no idea that S&S Power was building wooden coasters until just now. Are they any good? Looks like I'll be in Wisconsin Dells this summer, and I notice that one of these beasts is conveniently located thereabouts. Worth hitting?

You said that last time somebody died on Mission: Space.

It may not be the best coaster around, but it's still a shame to see a historic park close down like this. Any chance of seeing some photos of MBP at Theme Park Review? If you don't have any plans to go back before they close Robb, maybe you could solicit pictures from members here like you did with SFA?

Hey, I'm a Floridian. I can *totally* do hot and humid. But rattlesnakes? Um... what kind of rattlesnake problem exactly?