Swimace

YES!!! We most certainly did. Probably about 100 times that day!!

I'm pretty sure I read that Verbolten is going to have cameras installed in the trains so that you can buy an on-ride video. I'm not sure about what other, if any, of Bush Garden's coasters has this feature.

I think that hotel in Hakata was my favorite place we stayed on the trip! The food choices were amazing and it was such an easy walk to the train station. I want to go back already!

I'm definitely interested, but can't say for sure yet! Hopefully we can round up an Orlando group, find some cheap flights, and make a long weekend out of it.

I can't wait for Intamin hotness versus the rain! Plus having a lion trying to maul us! Aww... now I miss Japan :/

Wow, the new area seems like a great improvement over ToonTown Fair! It honestly does look much better, and I can't wait to see the finished product. I only wish that we had more photos! *Shakes head*... Oh, Adam...

Umm... are you sure about that? Could you maybe cite a source on this? I don't believe for a second that Alpengeist is the most forceful B&M invert ever created.

^^I'm not saying that Hersheypark doesn't know what they're doing or that the seating aspect is going to significantly impact the ride's capacity. I just think that the ride operators are going to be seriously annoyed with lots of GP groups waiting till the last second and then realizing "OMG, the seats are different... I want to sit over here". I'm sure that, from time to time, seat switching will lead to stacking and not hitting the optimal dispatch times. This happens frequently on any theme park attraction, but I'd be willing to bet it will happen more often on SkyRush due to the differences in seating. I mean honestly, I see all the time people trying to switch seats for stupid things like "Oh I want to sit next to this person instead" or "I do/don't want to sit on the outside and I'm just now thinking about this". I just see different seats as another reason to add to the list of things that get "non-park people" all thrown off at the last second. I don't think by any stretch that it's going to significantly impact capacity, but it definitely can be something that I'd simply classify as an "operational headache".

Just curious, but have you ever worked in theme park operations? Because I'm pretty sure that's where this argument is coming from. Sure, coaster enthusiasts can be annoying, but at least for the most part they understand enough not to slow down the efficiency of an attraction. It's the type of people that don't frequent theme parks that tend to get to a coaster, try to trade seats at the last minute, don't understand ride rules, etc etc. I can totally see a bunch of people trying to trade around seats after the airgates open, it's a common occurrence on many coasters, and I think with this ride's seating it may happen more often. Enthusiasts can act like spoiled know-it-alls, but in my experience they're usually the last people to slow down dispatch times.

I'm not sure if any of you guys follow them on Twitter, but these two tweets got me pretty excited:

I actually had really good rides on Space Mountain when I went in October; I think this could be an amazing attraction if they can get it to be consistently fun. The new restraints seem like a really great move for the park!

SeaWorld Orlando has now made it's Sky Tower attraction free for all guests! I think this is awesome news, as I really like this attraction. Part of me has to wonder if they're going to have enough queue space for the busy times of the year though. This will be interesting to see! http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features_orlando/2012/02/seaworld-orlando-sky-tower-rides-are-now-free.html

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Vanish point from ProSlide? Different manufacturers would explain the different policies.

^What problems has Wet n Wild been having? I haven't been following these things too closely, so could someone fill me in?

^Lol how many times have you gone to complain?!?! You sound like you've done this a lot!

I despised the forced ending. Some of the greatest attractions don't have a clear cut story (see Haunted Mansion, Pirates, etc.). Absolutely love the fact that they are cutting out the cheese from this otherwise fantastic ride. I wasn't so much saying that the ride needs a story, and yes I know plenty of rides at Disney don't have clear stories. My point was more that you go through a lot of varied landscape at the beginning of the ride, and then spend a loooong time slowly cruising in big open areas. The finale of the ride puts you in a different environment, sped up the vehicles a little bit, and just offered some variety and a clear "finish". I'm not so much lamenting the loss of a story, because the safari doesn't really need one, I just hope the new ending has a little bit more excitement than "slow, open spaces... ok done". I just hope the new ending integrates something more that just slowly cruising through big grassy areas. Not that there's anything wrong with the Savannah... it is a safari after all... I just never got off the ride thinking that I needed more of it.

It seems like every time they update this attraction it involves more animals and less story. Not that there's anything wrong with that (It is a safari after all!), but I kind of liked the ending in it's current form. You spend so much time cruising around big open spaces with live animals, the forest area with the tight turns and the geysers gave the ride an exciting finish. Hopefully Disney will find a way to integrate that sort of excitement into the new Zebra section. RIP Little Red... I guess she's finally getting poached, just like her mother...

Yeah, it's so bogus that a business would want to find ways to maximize its profits. Clearly a huge part of WDW's strategy is bringing people in for multi-day resort vacations, it makes sense that they want to try to find ways to increase their revenue stream while giving their guests more options. THIS.

I was really close to stopping by this park, but I kept postponing my visit as they kept delaying the coaster because of whatever issues they were having with the trains. Hopefully if this gets back up and running they'll have all of those issues sorted out with the Cliffhanger trains. I'll probably make it up to Dollywood for Wild Eagle, and this isn't too bad of a drive for a day trip from Pigeon Forge. I'd be willing to visit if it reopened.

I don't really get some of the negativity floating around here, Kentucky Kingdom wasn't that bad until Six Flags gave up on it. They actually have a really awesome water park! I know the whole "water park" aspect can be lost on a lot of coaster enthusiasts, but I guarantee that's a big draw for someone looking to create a sustainable business. With that said, the amusement park definitely needs work, especially considering the loss of Chang. I definitely think the park would need to invest in a major new thrill ride and maybe some family rides in order to start bringing people back. Currently they're stuck with one of the worst SLC's ever, a couple of sub-par woodies, and a shuttle loop... so I understand why a lot of coaster enthusiasts aren't as excited about this as Ed Hart's "coaster, coaster, coaster" strategy. But from more of a family park standpoint, they have Deluge, a good waterpark, and a decent rapids ride. They have a good starting point, I think with smart investments over a long period of time we could see this become a really nice park. It could be worse! I have way more optimism about the Koch's turning Kentucky Kingdom around than I ever had with Herschend turning Wild Adventures around!

I don't know how you did it! If I found myself back in the Tokyo airport I'd have to get out and do awesome Japan stuff! That's some serious will power.

Sorry I'm so late to the party! Animal Kingdom! Cause dammit if you're gonna pay your $4000 for your two week, quadruple occupancy, luxury vacation... well then that's how your day is gonna go!

I just played, and I won! The response time was pretty slow though, I felt like I wash just hitting buttons at a certain point. If they can improve that, I think this will be a great game!

Wow! Awesome Photos! I enjoyed browsing your pics WAY more than I've enjoyed most of my recent visits!

Personally I don't really "get" Phoenix either. I mean I thought it was a fun ride, and I liked it, but I just don't think it's anywhere near the same league as Toro, Boulder Dash, Ravine Flyer, Etc. I think it was somewhere in the 15-20 range on my poll.