Billy Hill

I forgot to mention... I've never actually been through SSL's queue. I've only stood at the entrance part to have a smoke. It was closed down before I ever had a chance to ride it.

For the most part, agreed. ToT's queue (the inside part) is pretty sweet though.

Roar at SFMW. The wife and I were on the 2nd to last train of the evening. The kids were on the last train. Coincidence? I think not. Billy, "Why do those kids have to scream so much?" Hill.

Much better indeed. Then again, it wouldn't take much to be a major improvement over DCA Soarin's queue. Although I like the ride itself very much, it's an all-time disappointing Disney major attraction queue. The sad thing is that in most other parks that I've visited the regular Soarin' queue would be more than acceptable. It only sucks because it's a sucky Disney queue.

Besides hookers?

This brings up something of a pertinenet question: Exactly what size and type earthquake are roller coasters, in general, designed to withstand? I can't say that the thought of an earthquake happening while I was on a ride hasn't crossed my mind. (Living in California, and riding coasters primarily in the bay area and LA) In fact, as I was riding Kong this past Saturday, it almost felt like there was an earthquake during the ride. Of course, I knew that was just the way it always feels... :? But still...?

It's very much a matter of respect more than anything else. I smoke, but I only do so in designated smoking areas. I also try to judge the way the wind is blowing and try to position myself within a smoking area so that my smoke will have the least possible impact on those around me that don't smoke. It even bothers me to see someone light up in an area of a park that isn't designated for smoking. Not because the smoke bothers me, but because of the lack of respect it shows. Smoking areas should be well though out, and enforced. Too many times, a smoking area is adjacent to a major walkway. Disneyland is an example of this. I'm well familiar with where I'm supposed to smoke in DL, but I often refrain because of how poorly the smoking areas are set up. California Adventure is a much better example of having the smoking areas placed so that they minimize the impact on nonsmokers. I don't really think we want to go down the road of "Smoking should just be illegal because it's bad for you." That may sound fine to the militant nonsmokers, but what are you going to say when they next come after your Big Mac, or your Ben and Jerry's ice cream because it's bad for you too? There are all kinds of things that people do that are bad for them. That's a slippery slope that we don't even want to start slipping on.

I don't have anywhere near the experience with different parks that many of you here do, but I must say that I agree with those that have mentioned Bonfante Gardens as an underrated park. It certainly exceeded the expectations that I had for it. It's not for the real thrill seekers, nor is intended to be. It's exactly what it's presented as: A "family" theme park. Most of the rides, while maybe not all that exciting, are certainly amusing and fun. The gardens are absolutely beautiful and exceptionally well kept. The Quicksilver Express coaster is just sort of an icing on the cake. I don't know enough about coasters to know what makes for a good one, or a bad one, but I know what I like, and I like this one. I don't think the park would be well served by trying to add more thrilling rides. It could possibly do with a themed log or raft ride, but other than that, there isn't much that I'd change about the park. It's small and cozy, with plenty of shade and plenty of opportunity to simply relax and take in all the beautiful gardens and waterfalls. I really, really, like this park. It's along the lines of the backyard that almost anyone would love to have, but without all the work.

Hi all. I've just registered for the forums here. I'm 40. My 1st coaster was the Matterhorn. My parents couldn't afford anything like a trip to Disneyland, so I worked to earn the trip. At the age of 10 I was a newspaper boy for a relatively small local northern California paper. They had a subscription drive going on at the time. The top sellers got to go on the trip. I worked my butt off for months. I went out soliciting subscribers almost every afternoon, after I'd completed my paper route. I don't remember exactly how many subscriptions I got, but I do remember that it was several hundred, and that I was the top subscription getter by almost 2 to 1 over whoever came in 2nd. I fell in love with Disneyland immediately. This was back in the days when they still had the ticket books. Although it was quite a few years before I was able to return, I had always intended to make sure to visit as often as possibly could. Now that I'm in a somewhat better financial position, I gather up the wife and kids for a week at the DL resort once a year. We also visit Marine World and Great America several weekends a year, and went to Bonfante Gardens for the 1st time last fall. (Nice little park, by the way) Great America also holds a special place in my heart because I also worked to earn my 1st trip there in much the same way that I did to go to DL. The park was in its innagural season on my initial visit. I've enjoyed many of the trip videos on this site. The Japan trip video was especially interesting because I do hope to someday be able to visit that resort. Thanks for the site and keep up the good work.