DILinator

Yeah, I discovered that, the day after I posted that! I've definitely been making use of that newfound availability frequently over the past few weeks! I love that Breakfast Stout is too, another of my favorite beers! Now... we just need to get KBS to that point!

Saw the Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom premiere last night with my GF, kiddos, and one other "nerd" friend (including myself in that category! lol), and I give it an enthusiastic two thumbs up! We were completing a day of marathoning all the Jurassic Park movies, starting at 10:30 in the morning, and wrapping up with the new film, and it was a fun experience! Full confession: I am a HUGE JP franchise fan, and even enjoy the much maligned JP 3, feeling like it's gotten to the point where it's so hated on, it's almost underrated now! I will say I found it worse today than I had thought previously, but still worth an occasional watch, especially for scenes like the one in the Aviary alone. Back to JW:FK though... I felt like it was the "scariest" JP movie since the original, at least in terms of atmosphere, and the mood of dread that it builds in a number of scenes, and I attribute that to Director AJ Bayona's horror background. Knowing that they have already planned the JW films to be a Trilogy, this installment definitely fits the mold of the darker, story arc propelling middle movie, and without giving away any spoilers, it's definitely left WIDE open for a 3rd film. My GF isn't a huge JP fanboy like me, and only saw the original JW yesterday, and only then in bits and pieces, as she kept herself busy doing other things. However, after seeing JW:FK last night, she couldn't stop saying how much she wished the next film in the series could be seen RIGHT AWAY, and loved the movie, and plans to watch JW in its entirety ASAP. So I think that's a strong testament to the strength of the film! My kids pointed out how there weren't any dull or low points in the entire film, and I'd agree with them, for the most part. It's engaging, and propels you forward all the way through, and definitely leaves you wanting more, even at a runtime of over 2 hours (contrasted with JP3, which at only an hour and a half, seems a little stretched). I'm debating whether I like this movie or the first JW movie more, and I would have that a strong 9-9.5 stars, so this would fall in that same range for me. Is it a perfect film, or even the second coming of the original Jurassic Park? No, I wouldn't go that far. There were some acting, and scripting issues, that I noticed. However, I'm able to overlook little things like that if the overall effect and package of the film is effective for what it's intended (something most "professional" movie critics are lousy at, which I find renders their opinions inert), and that means this film is a great one in my opinion! If you're a big fan of the series, and enjoyed JW, I think you're going to really enjoy this one as well! My "nerd" friend had the lone dissenting view that the movie wasn't all that great, but honestly his reasons for that weren't very strong, and I think they come more from the place of "series fatigue" than anything. In my opinion, JW:FK is enough different from what has come before it, in terms of locations, and action scenes, that I don't get any fatigue from it, and brings plenty of new things to the table. I'm definitely stoked about the movie, the franchise, and its future, and can't wait to see what comes next!

I think, much like Worlds of Fun, Valleyfair is the level of park that could eventually see a RMC Raptor, either a clone, or a new model, show up as its new coaster. While the long desired B&M Invert would be a bigger addition, I think a Raptor could fit great in that front Dinos Alive concert when it's expired, and would be quite the visual stunner at the front of the park!

I finally resorted to getting a strap for my glasses this year at CP, specifically in response to the heightened need on Steel Vengeance. Even if you buy them at the park (which I did), they aren't very costly. I don't like wearing them around everywhere, but I pop them on before the more intense rides, and then take them off when I'm done. I've been pleasantly surprised with how well they work, even on a complete maelstrom of forces like SV, and it's nice actually being able to see clearly on all coasters! I'd recommend getting some for your park-going trips, just to make things nicer for you, a fellow wearer of glasses.

I'm one of the biggest fans of the B&M Hypers out there, but I would still love a new Intamin Hyper anywhere! Hopefully, that's the model CGA is getting, though I wouldn't count on it honestly... I think the rumored CF vitriol at Intamin is real! lol

^Ahhh... The same names for a different ride tripped me up! Shows I should stick to commenting on parks I actually have been to!

^Penguin's Blizzard River isn't there anymore! I'm assuming you meant Joker, which took its place?

I actually quite enjoyed the fries when I had them, and I'm a bit of a Fry junkie! But I haven't been in years, so no telling whether they've gone down in quality since then.

If that isn't the least shocking (unconfirmed) news ever!

I'm with you regarding the seemingly glazed over intensity of Twisted Timbers! I rode it just under a week before Steel Vengeance debuted, and it immediately shot to the top of my favorite RMCs, and into the Top 5 of my favorite coasters! Yes, even over Lightning Rod! You are right about the out of control insanity the second half of the ride, and I do think this is a real gem of a coaster, that probably hasn't gotten as much publicity or talking up, because of the arrival of Steel Vengeance, which I do think is even more intense, shortly after. Still, TT is an absolutely amazing coaster, and you locals are very fortunate to have a coaster like that, and a park like KD so close to you! I'm bummed to hear this, because when I went earlier in the season, they were giving out unlimited toppings - period - and I thought it was one of the best in-park eateries I've been to (aside from a more traditional theme park like Disney or Busch Gardens)! I suppose it's understandable they had to limit it somewhat, for it to even remotely turn a profit, but it's still too bad...

I can't speak for AnonymousCactus, but as for me, my observation isn't based on whether it's a good deal or not (I still was very pleased with it from that standpoint), but rather that the food and beer selection didn't seem as large or varied as last year - at least for my tastes. It's still a heck of a cool event, to be sure, and one I'll do every year, as long as they have it! (And I really liked the new Brew Kettle beer, Huckleberry Hootenanny!)

^Thanks! Interesting that they chose to remove it, rather than just rename it... I wonder if it was having reliability issues already, or if they have plans for that space? Just removing it because of it being called Harley Quinn before, seems a little odd to me...

Since I don't know if I'll ever get my TR from last week up, I'll just comment here that I actually felt it was not as great of a selection as last year as well. On the whole, I thought it was a stretch to come up with more than 4 or 5 food items I wanted. HOWEVER, you are right on about the brisket! I couldn't believe how much brisket I got there for only 1 ticket! And it was quite tasty as well! So that was a winner! Also, I had a beer there - the Lex Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale - that was out of this world good! I only wish I'd discovered it earlier, before I ran out of tickets, because I would have gotten a lot more of it! Bottom line though, at least based on this year's selections, I had no problem sharing some tickets with my siblings who were with me (and wouldn't get the Brew and BBQ deal themselves, in spite of my urging, though they saw the error of their ways afterward), and I think 15 tix for two people would have been a fine number with what they offered this year.

I can't believe these things have become the next Boomerangs (or SLC's) in their redundancy (but reportedly, a lot better than either of those clones), yet I haven't been on one yet! I've definitely wanted to try one ever since seeing Superman at SFDK, so hopefully I can visit a park that has one before too long!

I've tried researching this, and have come up empty. Even the park map on the official site still has the Troika listed as "Harley Quinn's Spinsanity", so what IS that Troika going to be named now? Or has it been removed? Just curious how that strange situation all got resolved...

I'm not a big fan of Carowinds on the whole, yet, that coaster alone would just about make me want to call it my home park! SO freaking glorious! Choir of angels level indeed! But what we really want to know, is if you rode Vortex, and if you still think it isn't the steaming piece of steel garbage everybody else does!

I actually went to Castaway Bay earlier this year, after going many years ago and thinking it was great, and came away VERY underwhelmed this time around. It's been so far surpassed by Kalahari just down the road, that it's like it's getting lapped! I would think CP would invest more into it, unless they consider it too much of an investment to legitimately compete with Kalahari. In which case, they will likely just keep it as a "perk" hotel, rather than a destination hotel. There's just so much competition in that area (indoor waterpark), they may just deem it best not to invest too heavily there.

#Truth See, this is exactly what I was saying! Behemoth and Leviathan automatically have a connotation of something HUGE and powerful, for most people. Ziz just leaves them going "Huh?" ZiZanity Classic!

My past visit on Wednesday (mini photo TR for that, and Coastermania, still pending) was really the only time I thought the MCBR grab was noticeable of the 11 times I've ridden SV. And it didn't affect the second half, other than the drop off of the MCBR at all.

Not that your snarky jab deserves a response, but I've been around for quite a while, and have known about Behomoth and Leviathan for quite a while, and have known them to be a commonly known thing for quite a while. That was simply one of MANY conversations I've had over the years, pointed out to prove a point. A point that shouldn't even be up for debate: Ziz isn't even remotely as well known of a name for a mythical (or biblical) beast. I've been in religious circles my entire life, and have never heard that name before this thread. I would wager a lot of money, that outside of orthodox Jews, who study the original Hebrew texts, that a percentage of society upwards of 85% have never heard that name. It's not in any of the modern translations of the Bible, so it's not going to be well known. Now, none of that is to say CF wouldn't pull something unknown out of their tail for this coaster (Rougarou, Valravn), and I'm not even saying there's no way it'll be that. But my point stands: when you say Behemoth and Leviathan, most people, especially if they have even a cursory religious upbringing, will have an image in their mind. Say ZIz... You're going to get almost exclusively blank faces. This knowledge isn't through "very little research," it's through many years of life experience, and common sense... Honestly, I think one of the reasons this project has been longer in coming than many initially suspected, is due to this reason. Valravn had a good couple of years to bask in the glory of being the #1 Dive Coaster (at least based on stats - experience may vary), and gather raves at CP, and now they've debuted a new hotness there, and Valravn is yesterday's news. Now, when new coaster season rolls around for 2019, CF will again be unleashing a huge, record breaking Dive Coaster (assuming that's the magnitude of this coaster), which will likely be the largest investment at any CF park for that year, and will have the spotlight, and the attention of the masses, who are mesmerized by these things (regardless of how popular they are with enthusiasts.) I know I'm already planning to get my Passport finally, and get back to CW next year, as I will now have this AND Leviathan to check out!

VR Iron Dragon! It was actually really good! Definitely improved the ride experience! Proof that on the right coaster, VR isn't a terrible idea.

As a Michigander, who has been to a ton of parks, and on over 230 coasters, I'd still place Thunderhawk closer to 200 in my rankings, than 150. Aside from riding it defensively in the very front row, you're going to get banged around, or strain your neck from trying to hold your head still. The Vekoma Hang n Bangs, even at their best, are just not a very good coaster experience, I think most people would agree...

When I went with my sister last year, the same thing happened! We were excited about the park being open late, so we could get night rides on El Toro, but we'd ridden everything we wanted to, including a bunch of El Toro rides, and it was still a few hours away to close, so we just left. And this was midweek the week of July 4th. Definitely an interesting park in terms of crowds!

^ I'm glad it wasn't on there when we were just there a couple months ago!