prospekt88

I wanna throw out another idea that might be worth doing especially if you end up not being able to get a FP for Frozen. I know you said the Studios seems like an empty park right now, which is true, but if you were to FP Rock n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Star Tours, it would be a great way to break up your EPCOT day instead of dealing with the insane midday crowds at the Magic Kingdom. Those are three awesome rides you haven't done yet. And even if you do go back after Toy Story and Star Wars open you might not want to use FP on any of those three at that point. Plus I still think that leaves time to get EPCOT done. You can rope drop Soarin' or Test Track then wait in line for the other. Maybe hit a couple other rides at EPCOT. Take the scenic and relaxing boat ride from EPCOT to the Studios, hit your 3 fast passes over there, and maybe even grab some rando EPCOT fastpasses before heading back there for the rest of the night? So something like this: -Rope Drop at EPCOT -Test Track -Soarin' -Living with Land -Boat to the Studios -FP Rock n Roller Coaster -FP Tower of Terror -FP Star Tours -Boat back to EPCOT -Seas with Nemo -Spaceship Earth -Spend rest of night drinking/eating at World Showcase -Illuminations -Frozen to close out the night Whether you can do that all in one day will probably depend what time FPs you get for the Studios attractions. Maybe even leave Star Tours out since it's on the opposite end of the park to the other two, but I do think it could be doable. Only other thing I'd say is as far as food goes I love the quick service on the water in Mexico, if not just for the margaritas, the pretzel shop in Germany is a great stop for a quick beer and snack, and Via Napoli is awesome Pizza/Italian even by New York standards so don't be skeptical. Glad to see you're checking out Disney's other parks and cannot wait for the amazing report that I'm sure will follow! Enjoy!

^Those surveys were the last I heard. Hopefully they are trying out some different options now. Was just wondering with all the new touches they have been putting on Star Tours...has there been any indication as to what the plan for that ride is when Galaxy's Edge opens?

Thanks for all the replies! I don’t think the uncomfortable nature of Skyrush has much to do with the forces I think it’s just everything to do with where the restraints rest on my thighs. I’ve never even considered putting my hands up on the ride haha so I am always holding on.

Day 2 We woke up around 9:00 AM and headed down to the free breakfast the hotel was offering. It was nothing special but if you go into this type of thing expecting special you're probably disappointed often in life. Then we headed back to the room, got ready, packed up quick, and were checked out and on our way to Hershey by 10:00 AM. The park was opening at noon but Chocolate World was opening at 11:00 so there would be something to occupy our time if we arrived early. After a short scenic drive we arrived to Hershey, PA a little after 11:00. Ghost horse? Or Pennsylvania where you share the highway with horse drawn carriages? After parking we headed straight to Chocolate World and got in line for the Factory Tour. The line was spilling out of the queue and into the store but we knew it moved relatively quick. We ended up spending about 30 minutes in what was pretty much an entirely new queue for us. Similarly, the ride was almost completely redone since the last time we rode it. I can't say whether it's an improvement or not, because I really am just a sucker for corny dark rides and this one also holds some nostalgic value with me growing up going to Hershey as a kid. So to me this is always just a fun ride regardless of what is done to it. Plus the free candy bar at the end is a perfect welcome to Chocolate Town, USA. After leaving Chocolate World we were surprised to see swarms of people lining up for rope drop, backing up all the way to tram drop off. Luckily, once the park opened this moved very quickly and we were in the park headed back to Laff Trakk shortly after. Welcome to Hersheypark! I took this on the way out which explains the lack of crowd. The man responsible for it all. Laff Trakk was new to us on this trip and we knew the queue grew quickly for it, so we made sure to make it our first stop. This was the right decision as after queueing for about ten minutes and riding, it looked like the queue had stretched to over an hour. As for the ride itself, this was our first Maurer spinner and we both thought it was really fun. Personally I feel like every spinner would be better coaster if it didn't spin, and this was no exception. But it was a good ride and something I think that fits in great at Hershey. Next we continued to the back of the park towards Lightning Racer where we were greeted with a virtually empty station. We hopped in the back row of Thunder then went around for the front row of Lightning. It was a fun and smooth ride like always but felt a little tamer than usual having ridden Twister the previous night. Then it was onto Wildcat. I loved this ride as a kid and I was surprised to see so much hate for it when I first started reading enthusiast boards back in the day. They were only running one train so it took us about 10 minutes to get on the front row. It was fun as always. I'm still waiting to experience that brutal roughness I always read about. If not for the racing aspect of Lightning Racer I would even put it ahead of that. Next up was... Storm Runner! Again only one train was running but luckily there was just a two train wait for the front row. I love this ride. As far as steel coasters go, Millenium Force I would say is on a tier of it's own for me but this is right there in the second tier along with rides like Nitro, I305, Griffon and Montu. Absolute blast from start to finish, with one of the best launches out there, great air in the front seat over the top hat and a great drop, with fun and one of a kind elements the rest of the way. Not a dull moment and definitely my favorite ride in the park. After that we wanted to sit down somewhere to eat and watch a little bit of the Jets vs Patriots game on our phones. Conveniently, our favorite spot to grab food in the park was right next door. Turkey leg with baked beans and cornbread. The BBQ was great as always. After that we headed to the zoo. ZooAmerica for those who don't know is a small zoo attached to the park included with admission that features animals native to North America. Having been plenty of times in the past this time we just made a quick loop to digest the food and see some of the main exhibits including Bald Eagles, Black Bears, and Wolves. Zoo America is a great little perk included free with admission! The black bears were very playful that day. One of the coolest animals to watch up close in my opinion. Next up was another new ride for us... Hershey Towers Before these rides were announced I think everybody was in agreement that a drop tower was something that Hershey could really use. Then after the announcement I know a lot of people thought the idea of having three different heights was a stupid idea, but I personally thought it was awesome. Growing up going to Hershey almost every year, one of the coolest features they had for kids in our opinion were the different height categories based off the different candy bars; Kiss, Reeses, Hershey, Twizzler, Jolly Rancher or whatever the order is today. We would get pictures taken in front of the signs every year and it was a great feeling moving up to the next category. I think these towers are a great play off that concept. Starting with the Kiss tower and eventually gaining the courage to try the Hershey tower is probably fun for families. It might sound like a stupid justification to people on these boards but that is what I thought of when they first announced it and my initial reaction was that it was a really cool concept. Anyway, my brother did not wanna ride multiple towers as he's not a fan of this ride type in general, so we only rode the Hershey Tower. It was a fun ride but tame compared to StratosFEAR the day before. We then continued on towards another highlight of the park to me... Great Bear was my first invert and still one of my favorites. It was a pleasant surprise to see that Great Bear was running two trains and the queue was not even out of the station. There was a 4 train wait for the front and the crew was working really quick so we were on in no time. I love Great Bear. The only invert I've been on that tops it in my opinion is Montu and maybe Afterburn at Carowinds. The coaster's only downside is the short length but everything it does accomplish in that time is just a ton of fun. After our great ride we continued down into the Hollow. I'm gonna go on another little trip down memory lane and mention that this area is the biggest reason I fell in love with coasters and amusement parks. It's an absolute marvel. The roar of Great Bear flying through its loop and immelman while your queuing for Comet or the Wave Swinger. The interaction of Sooperdooperlooper, Great Bear, and Coal Cracker looming on the hill above the area. The classic amusement park charm of Comet and the midway games. It's perfect. This all before even mentioning Skyrush. Sooperdooperlooper was the first coaster we hit in the area. With two trains operating it was a short 5 minute wait for the back row and the ride was fun as always. I will say though that the trim brake towards the back half of the ride seemed way more noticeable than I had remembered. It completely killed all momentum towards the end of the ride. If it's necessary to preserve the ride then so be it, but a bit of a shame none the less. Classic Schwarzkopf loop. Now for Skyrush. I know this is one of the more polarizing coasters out there and unfortunately I hate to admit I am one of the people who can't stand this ride. Skyrush's impressive lift structure. At least it's a good looking coaster. So I rode this coaster for the first time a few years ago and it was in the back row. It was incredibly painful on my thighs like people have constantly mentioned. Enough so that I didn't even want to give it a reride towards the front to see if it made a difference. Now a few years later with that memory faded slightly I was ready to give it another chance. They were running two trains and it was a walk on to the front row, and most other rows were empty so I was really hoping I enjoyed it this time around as it would be an easy marathon opportunity. Unfortunately it was even more painful than I remember. What the hell is wrong with this thing? Yeah the forces and the air are incredible, but it also feels like it is trying to rip my body in half at the thighs. If they had continued to send our train through the station for another lap I would've been convinced I was strapped into some kind of torture device. My brother felt the same way. I want to say that the restraints must fit some people's bodies differently, but maybe we are just a couple of pussies haha. Whatever it may be, I am jealous of you folks that can enjoy this beast. Moving on we headed right next door to Comet. Comet's classic looking station. Again two train operations here and the line was only halfway down the ramp leading up to the station. This would be the last ride of the trip so we waited for the front row which wasn't much of an additional wait anyway. Lift hill shot! I know these photos are pretty brutal haha but I didn't get much so I'm including the few I do have. Comet delivered a great ride like always. This ride is pure fun and was a great way to wrap up the weekend. My favorite wooden coaster of the three at the park for sure. There was one last thing to do before heading out, something we do at the end of most trips to Hershey... stop by the kettle corn stand. Kettle Corn and Fresh Lemonade to cap off the weekend. Armed with snacks for the car ride ahead, we were back on our way home to Long Island. With the lack of crowds we had gotten everything we wanted to get done and were back at our homes before Sunday Night Football. Overall it was a great weekend trip, and great way to wrap up the season. Thanks to everybody who made it through this and I appreciate any and all comments!

Unfortunately there’s no tunnel that goes underneath NYC and pops up in rural PA

Hah while I see your point there is also the reality for me where living 12 miles from NYC means I live an hour and a half away from NYC. So it’s not all bright and rosy!

Thanks for the advice. I know we probably didn't win out at the end of the day with the wirstband, but I rarely get to the park so we figured we'd get it anyway just not have to worry about tickets. Plus, if there's any place I don't mind giving an extra buck to it's Knoebels. Thanks for the welcome and the initial tip haha! Yeah that would be a tough one for me to answer! Thank you! Thanks! Yeah although I've only been on about 50 wooden coasters and don't rank them I'd say it is now in a tier with Phoenix right below Boulder Dash and El Toro. I haven't been on any RMCs yet but it is definitely better than any GCI I've been on whereas before the trip I kind of viewed it with those rides. Thanks...for the bump I suppose Hoping to get the Hershey part out later tonight or tomorrow. Thanks again to everyone who read and especially to those who left comments!

I just want to repeat what Bill said... there's no reason hang on to the rental car while in Manhattan. One thing I would even recommend would be to drop the rental car off at Newark on your initial drive to Manhattan, and then take the same public transportation from Newark to Penn Station that Bill recommended you take but in reverse. Newark is pretty much on the way from SFGadv to Manhattan and that way you'll completely avoid city driving and can get familiar with the route. Also, while I can't speak towards hotel rates in Manhattan since I've never needed one, something near Penn Station would serve as a good sort of base camp to set out and see the sites from. Plus you wouldn't need to drag your luggage onto the subway or into a cab at all if you stay near the station. Regarding Wednesday, June 20th...As someone who lives in New York and went school down in Virginia I did that drive down I-95 countless times, and I would say it is not a bad idea to give yourself a full day. Especially towards the end of an exhausting trip like yours. I wish I was being dramatic when I say it can take you anywhere from 4-8 hours. Only other thing I'd say is I've been to Busch Gardens a few times on the weekend and still was able to get the entire park done easily. So if you're looking for a more relaxing beach day I would maybe recommend doing that on the Monday and Busch on the Sunday. Obviously weather plays a factor but if its a hot weekend day in June the beach will probably be mobbed compared to that Monday. Just something to consider if you want a more pleasant day at the beach. Should be a great trip overall though, enjoy yourself!

Great report! I was there the weekend before you on a Sunday and temps were flirting with 80 degrees that day but the crowds were very low. It was a station wait for every coaster except Laff Track and one cycle wait for every flat including the Drop Towers. Very strange. Good to see you had a great time regardless!

The plan for this trip was for me and my brother to leave late Saturday morning and hit Knoebels from open to close 2:00-10:00 on Saturday 10/14. Then we would start the drive to Hershey and spend the night somewhere in the middle, finishing the drive in the morning and spending as much time as wanted at Hershey before making the drive back. We did this exact trip a few years ago and the crowds were light at both parks, especially Hershey. But with the unseasonably warm temperatures expecting to be in the mid 70s on Saturday and even hitting the 80s on Sunday, I wasn't too sure what to expect this time around. Day 1 That trip a few years ago was our first time to Knoebels, and I have been looking forward to going back there ever since. We left Long Island around 10am and after a quick stop at Dunkin we were on our way. Anyone familiar with the area knows there is no easy way to head west from Long Island through NYC, so we usually allow Waze to choose our fate. We were directed to the inevitable hellhole of the Cross Bronx/George Washington Bridge, and after about 45 minutes of delays we were on the open road heading into the beautiful PA countryside. A little sample of the beautiful scenes the drive to Knoebels offers. We arrived to the free admission gravel parking lot at about 2:15 and were instantly transported to what felt like another era, one that I never had the fortune of living in. With the weather forecast holding true and temps being in the mid 70s with clear skies, the parking lot was already significantly full. As we headed to get our Pay one Price wristband we were met with a line that stretched about 50 yards back from the ticket booth. Damn. Not to be discouraged we decided to start off with something we did not do nearly enough of on our last trip, try all the great food offerrings (I can't think of another park in the country where I would avoid eating food beforehand so we could buy as much as possible while there). We got a Ribwich to split while waiting for our wirstbands, which was really good, and luckily the line only lasted about 20 minutes thanks to the great work by employees. One disclaimer before I continue. I don't usually take many, if any, pictures while visiting parks. Knowing I was going to do a PTR I tried to remember to take a few but I was usually too caught up in the moment and forgot. After securing our bands it was off to the first ride of the trip...Black Diamond! I know this ride doesn't get much love but I think it's the perfect way to kick off a day at a place like Knoebels. The line was spilling out of the small queue into the midway but still only took about 15 minutes. The ride was great! It obviously lacks in the coaster aspect but there is a ton to look at while riding and I appreciate the effort the park put in to resurrecting this thing. A great classic ride to start the day! On the way to Black Diamond we passed a stand selling Bacon on a Stick...with chocolate. Needless to say we knew where our next stop was. For obvious reasons this isn't a common offering around the country, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the hell out of it. Too awesome of an idea not to give it a try! Bacon in belly we hopped in line for Phoenix, which had a line spilling out about 20 yards into the midway. With two trains operating I wanna say we were sitting in the third row about 5 minutes later. It's absolutely insane how quickly they send out these trains. The ride was amazing as ever. An absolute gem of a coaster. I don't rank coasters but if I did, absolutely a top 5 wood coaster for me. Next up was StratosFEAR which had a one cycle wait. I have been on a number of drop towers. Whether it be S&S or 1st 2nd or 3rd generation Intamin. Whether it is 100 feet or 300 feet. There is no drop tower I've been on as crazy as this one. One second you're enjoying the autumn foliage and the next you're plummeting with your stomach in your mouth completely convinced you're about to slam through the concrete straight to the center of the Earth. Insanely awesome ride. Realizing we had gone 30 minutes without food we wandered over to the Round Top Hut to check out the offerings. We opted for the shortest line knowing that everything was probably good, and ended up splitting a Philly Cheesesteak. It was good, nothing amazing, but good. Next we sprung the extra couple bucks for the Haunted House, which to continue the theme for the day, had a line spilling out into the midway. This line probably took about 15-20 minutes. I spent some of this time reading the backstory for the ride they had written in what seems like 12 sized font on a billboard attached to the roof of the queue hut. I didn't realize this last time we were here and it added some extra intrigue for me. The ride was great as I remember it. Definitely one of, if not, my favorite dark ride outside of Disney/Universal. In terms of "classic" dark rides with practical effects, nothing I've been on comes close. We continued the loop towards the front of the park towards the sky ride. We didn't get on this ride last time so it was something I wanted to check out this time around. The views were as advertised and it was an interesting experience riding one of these without a snowboard strapped to my feet. Never before seen photo! It was cool seeing the park start to come alive for the night. Notice the lights on the Ferris Wheel and StratosFEAR. A hint at where we were headed next! Next we headed to another new ride for us, Impulse! All the switchbacks were full, and with only two trains carrying 8 passengers each we were afraid how long the queue might take. Considering the park offered free wifi and we had the Yankees ALCS game available to watch on our phones we decided to wait it out. It ended up taking probably between 30-45 minutes but it seemed even quicker than that. We both thought the ride was good. The drop, vertical loop, and inline twist were all great highlights but I thought the rest of the layout just seemed to meander around. Although I didn't love it I think it's a great addition to the park. Growing up going to amusement parks, one thing I'll never forget is my first inversion on California Screamin'. I think with all the families that visit Knoebels annually, it is great that people will be able to experience a memory like this at the park. Perfect addition to the park! Now being at the front of the park there was something we needed to get out of the way. I have been reading all the reviews about the pierogies at Knoebels for years. Last time we were at the park I didn't know what I was doing so I just got the ones from the Round Top hut. While they were good, they weren't anything amazing so I was a little disappointed and confused until I saw coasterbill claim there was a particular stand the pierogies needed to be bought from. So we headed to the Roast Beef Stand and...my goodness these things are amazing. Unfortunately we only got one order to split and if not for the long line we would've went back to get more. Thanks for the recommendation, I never would've discovered these on my own. It was dark now and we continued to the back of the park, past the seemingly mile long line for the haunted train ride, towards Twister. Luckily, Twister only had a station wait and was running two trains so we waited a few extra minutes for the front. Holy crap. I did not remember this ride being so damn good. Maybe it was the combo of it being a front row ride at night but it was running like a bat out of hell. This one ride really made me consider whether I liked it as much as Phoenix. I'm not going to answer that because I don't have to but it definitely made me think. We looped right back around and walked onto the second row which was a little bumpier but still amazing. Next we went to check out the line for Flying Turns and it was spilling way out onto the midway. We had been checking in on this queue all day and this was the common theme each time. We had ridden it last time and although I really liked it, it wasn't something I'd wait 60 minutes for. We decided to get a cup of coffee from the Loaf and hit up another highly recommended hidden gem of Knoebels...Fascination. The employees there were really nice and offered us our first few games free since it was our first time playing. We got the hang of it pretty quickly and ended up throwing all the money we could piece together from our pockets to continue playing (about $12 haha). We each won a couple rounds and luckily we didn't have anymore cash because we definitely would've spent all of it there. Feeling rejuvenated we headed back towards Phoenix. The line was far out into the midway but again the great operations had us in the front row in about 10 minutes. This area of the park is really festive at night between the Haunted Antique cars, the gift shop with the jack-o-lantern light show, and Phoenix with its lit up tunnel. The ride was amazing as always. The Phoenix plaza has a really festive atmosphere on Fall Nights. We went back for one last front row ride on Twister, which was as good if not better than the last one. Then back to Phoenix to give it a spin in the back row. It was about 9:30 and there was still one thing we had on our minds... Neapolitan Ice Cream Waffle Sandwich! This thing was amazing. Second to only the pierogies out of all the food we tried. We then started heading towards the parking lot satisfied with the long day, but wanted to give Flying Turns one last look. To our surprise there was no line spilling onto the midway, and only half of the queue was filled! We joined the queue which had these really cool practical Halloween decorations. The swing was attached to a thin clear string that led up to the station. Every once in awhile the ride op would yank the string and the swing would start moving unexpectedly. After only about 10-15 minutes we boarded the train. I got the front row and I'm not sure if this ride has gained speed over the years or what but it was awesome. Way better than I remembered it and I'm definitely glad we got to ride it. Yeah it is short and the capacity leaves a lot to be desired but it is pure fun. If a park was ever able to build a full size version of this ride it would quickly go from fun to insane. Perfect way to the end of the first day of this trip! We walked out to the parking lot to our car for the 40 minute drive to our Holiday Inn Express in Selinsgrove. The only negative of the day came when we made the rookie mistake of assuming Pennsylvania had normal liquor laws. The Islanders were on a west coast swing and had a 10:30 PM puck drop so we had planned to pick up some beers at a gas station to drink while watching the game back at the hotel room. Pennsylvania laughed in our face at that idea. Well that'll do it for Part 1, thanks for reading everyone! This was my first attempt at a PTR so thanks for bearing with me if you've made it this far. Hopefully the Hershey segment will be a little better haha

Since this seems to be a really popular topic on this forum haha... I find that Wawa is the only of the two I ever find myself at sober and they have decent sandwiches and other hot food. It's real greatness is the convenience but it's also some pretty good food. Sheetz on the other hand is a drunk man's paradise. Once you walk up to one of those tap to order machines you're entering a wormhole of goodness with things like their fried chicken biscuits and fried mac n' cheese bites.

Great update, thanks for sharing! Always good to see places like Valley Forge and Gettysburg through the eyes of people that really appreciate them. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts on Hershey.

Completely agree. Went a few years ago on a Sunday late in October and hit every coaster in just a few hours. We usually leave late Saturday Morning and hit Knoebels from open to close then spend the night between Knoebels and Hershey. Hit Hershey at opening and are done with everything there with time to get home before Sunday Night Football. It's a really stress free easy trip for anyone in the area looking to close the season with a great coasters and low crowds. Plus the area is beautiful that time of year especially around Knoebels.

Bracing myself for a Skywarp version of Wonder Woman's Golden Lasso right in the middle of the Golden Kingdom. The direction this park has gone ever since consecutively adding the two most impressive additions in Six Flags history has been brutal. I understand they were in great financial trouble after Golden Kingdom and Plaza Del Carnaval, but at the same they're still kind of riding the success of those additions to this day.

I've never ridden one but I imagine having the one side completely open air with no wall adds a little bit of an extra thrill, especially in this ride's case because it will be right over the midway.

If you look at the background of the concept art that shows a close up of one of the flying saucer turns, it looks like they actually managed to keep Shoreline Sprayground as well. In my opinion the water coaster is the perfect addition and the mat racer is just icing on the cake. The water park really needed to add capacity and this will certainly do that, and in probably the best way possible. Hershey has gotta be one of the best value parks in the country when you consider you get access to one of the best ride lineups in the world, what is now a really good looking waterpark, a nice little zoo, the free nighttime preview, and Chocolate World. And to think they haven't even begun to expand into the golf course they now own....

Have there been any reports of whether Red Force has been operating reliably over in Spain? That would be an interesting fit although I agree the most exciting option would be an Intamin or B&M Giga. Just the fact that they're adding a new themed section makes me happy. I'm interested what Busch can do these days with a clean slate of land.

Great update as always! Considering all the trips I've taken to Orlando it's hard to believe I've never spent a day at Sea World. Mako and Manta look awesome and the shows and animal exhibits seem right up my alley. And I can't believe that deal for Dine w/ Shamu. It seems way too good to be true. Can make up for half the price in beer and then you're looking at about 15 dollars for a meal and a show. Seems like a good deal anywhere never mind a theme park in Orlando.

A water coaster out of Roller Soaker's old station similar to the new Krakatau Water Coaster at Volcano Bay would be the perfect addition. Not sure if it would convince me to enter the Boardwalk considering the crowds that place has, but from the park's perspective it makes a ton of sense.

I've been to about 35 parks and ridden around 200 coasters, don't keep an exact count. Also not going to include Disney Parks in my favorite's list to keep it at least a little bit interesting: Favorites; 1) Hersheypark: Amazing lineup of rides, well rounded, one of my top 5 steels in Storm Runner, great classics that got me started on coasters back in the day like Comet and Sooperdooperlooper, in a really cool town with a great resort, a lot of interesting history, and good golf, plus Chocolate World and the zoo add an extra dimension on top. 2) Cedar Point: Awesome location on the peninsula, great resort in Breakers, and the ride lineup speaks for itself. Millennium Force is my favorite coaster anywhere, combo of location and layout can't be beat. 3) Busch Gardens Tampa: The 3 B&Ms are reasons number 1 2 and 3 for why this place is great. Montu is a top 5 steel for me. Never even been there with Cheetah Chase or the new spinner but they could only make it better. The animal exhibits are also really high quality. Wish they still had Rhino Rally but still plenty of cool ways to see the animals. 4) Knoebels: Phoenix first and foremost. The setting in the forest and the atmosphere with the campground and classic lineup of flats really transports you back and I love it. 5) Lake Compounce: Boulder Dash. Number 1 wood coaster for me and only ride that comes close to competing with Millenium Force for me. Park has an amazing setting on the Lake, a lot of charm, and the best Halloween event I've been to. Just missed: Six Flags Great Adventure, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Kings Dominion Bucket List; 1) Tokyo Disney Resort: Big Disney fan and these parks are considered by many to be the best theme parks in the world. 2) Shanghai Disney Resort: Followed the construction of this resort from the start so am really interested in checking it out. 3) Dollywood: Mixture of coasters, natural setting, food, and resort option makes this really appealing to me. 4) Silver Dollar City: Same as Dollywood minus the resort option. 5) Kennywood: This park seems right up my alley with great setting, and lineup of old and new rides. Just Missed: Pretty much every European park. Liseberg, Europa Park, Efteling, Port Aventura, Phantasialand are the main ones that stick out

Amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing

Nice update! I agree with you about how great Mummy is. Probably my favorite ride at the resort outside of Potter rides. That and Spiderman are the two non-Potter attractions I think Universal really did well. I do find it funny that as you said Dragons are by far the smoothest outdoor coasters at the resort but they are the ones getting the axe. The combo of transforming them into Potter rides, the lack of dueling, and the addition of the metal detector and lockers has really taken away from the experience tho. Whatever they add there will probably feel way more cohesive and still be great.

Thanks for sharing those photos. The Great Movie Ride was a great concept and fun ride but it has definitely run its course. I think replacing it with a Mickey ride as a centerpiece to a park themed to Disney's Studios is a perfect concept. As far as adding a new attraction to Pixar Place as mentioned above, is that alleyway still going to be open to the public after Toy Story and Star Wars open? There won't be any permanent attractions or food services there and it would be the perfect backstage area for Midway Mania and the new Mickey ride so I assumed that's all it would be.

^Interesting. Where did you get that infro from? Sounds like a cool concept but it'll be interesting to see how they pull off the effect that you are boarding "the" Millennium Falcon cockpit as opposed to one of many if this is omnimover format.

Nice photos, it's good to see everything progressing. I tried searching but couldn't find anything on the LA bar/Streets of America. Where was this announcement?