jedimaster1227

http://www.southernstaramusement.com/news_11_10_09.cfm I find it a little strange that SSA had a far more laid back stance towards the ended partnership a few weeks ago and yet we see them "fighting" now. I figure the politics of this situation will keep Six Flags New Orleans dead long past the time when it is even feasible to revive...

I would probably put the loop back into Son of Beast's layout. Just throwing it out there...

It seems there is hope for Margate's Dreamland amusement park after all as the government has decided to step in and help fund a restoration of the park, including a rebuilding of the Scenic Railway. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/8361781.stm

Today I had the chance to get back to the Magic Kingdom to ride Space Mountain. Let me just start by saying that this newly refurbished attraction has completely blown all of my expectations out of the water. I've always loved Space Mountain, so I'm a little biased, but for those that enjoyed the ride in its previous state, I doubt you'll find any reason not to applaud the Imagineers that have only plussed this classic Tomorrowland staple. As detailed earlier, this ride has been "refreshed" with some new track work, effects and an even darker setting that preserves the story originally laid out when the ride opened in 1975. The addition of a newly interactive queue game and a futuristic detailing of a previously dated station has helped to set the pre-show experience apart on a level I couldn't have anticipated. All that I loved from the previous iteration remains intact--the "star tunnel" loop continues to play in the queue, which is certainly a relief. The new air gates have made the process of loading even easier, especially for those guests that used to trip on the loading safety lines. Surprisingly, an additional set of air gates sits towards the back of the station track, indicating the possibility for a two-train loading procedure in the future. Once seated, riders will note that the newly repainted trains feature a more comfortable (and more snug) seat and fabric. Overall, the train is all that could be expected, if ruling out the possibility of onboard audio. The ride's layout has not changed, so those familiar with Space Mountain will know where everything goes from here. The star tunnel features a new audio and a new light-sphere as the end that makes your launch more believable. The launch ends with the typical turn, interrupted only by a set of flashes, later revealed to be for your "passport photos." Moving up the lift, tributes adorn the main shuttle's body while the new astronauts and station control workers look on (in stylish new shades, just so you know). The rest of the ride is virtually the same, save for some projections that look clearer than ever and a slightly longer re-entry tunnel. The ride itself is smoother than ever and seemed to be running a little faster than I remembered. Even better, it seems that airtime can be appreciated more when you don't have to worry about your lap bar damaging your innards... And with the newly sanded track, the worry is no longer present. The post show has been tastefully updated, utilizing some old sets and some even older tributes to bring this exit into the future. Space Mountain no longer resembles the transport-line of the FedEx past; rather a savvy option for space travel. From entry to exit, this new attraction offers an experience akin to an airport-to-airport flight, complete with destination advertising and some brief bouts of turbulence. I have to stop once again to commend those involved in this refurbishment for all of their incredible work. It isn't easy to plus a classic attraction like Space Mountain, but Alex Wright and his team have found a way to do so with much success. Something old is now something new! No... Thank you! It seems that the chromakey green may be used for a new camera-based experience at the end of the post-show. Approaching the end... I spy something with my little eye... Something that is a geodesic sphere! This seems eerily familiar... Another clever tribute... Sneaky, sneaky! I hear the Disney Fantasy may take a cruise to here in 2032... Note: With every hover vacation you get two free Snuggies: the blanket with sleeves! New hotness... I want to go to there. I love how everything that was reused looks brand new! I hope they don't lose my bags... I've got my favorite Yo Gabba Gabba tee in there! The original of originals... Hello Matt! Is that a Horizons tribute I see? The Tomorrowland Chamber of Commerce sponsors Starport Seventy Five. The air gates look great and are quite effective. The station has been upgraded to include fences and air gates. The newly enclosed station features a porthole into space showing off Disney's newest DVC resort. The plastic looking panels have been painted a fluorescent purple that glows well under the newly installed black lights. The control tower's windows have been darkened. Guests can no longer see tower workers at work. Queue lighting certainly makes a difference... The old ride video loop remains on the television, but the screen itself seems to have been replaced. For the index... Here's one for you Larry! A look at the trains before departure... The game screens wrap around much of the queue, allowing many players to take part in the interactive experience. A queue game panel. The queue posters no longer feature images of galaxies and nebulas. Now Starport Seventy-Five reminds guests of its available routes of travel. Some additional tributes are hidden in this destination listing. Can you find any of them? Alpha and Omega are recognized as such even in the queue signage. Old is new, and I like it! The new queue-based game experience is timed specifically to work with the flow of the queue. When guests are at a stop, the game begins. When they prepare to move, it ends. The entrance queue has been altered slightly to include an additional exit. Star Tours isn't the only company in the transport business... Just in case you forgot where we were... This is a good sign... Really. Its just a good sign.

^^Thank you for the update bpfraser and welcome to TPR. We definitely appreciate your update and look forward to further insights from your visits to the parks during your time here on the site. While your report was certainly exciting, I am going to recommend that you take a look at the Terms of Service page to get a feel for our posting rules regarding spelling and grammar. Your posts are appreciated, but will be far easier to read with a little bit of spelling and grammar revisions. Once again welcome to TPR and thank you for sharing your time and information with us! ^No specific work was done to change the ride's existing layout in any way, so I doubt this was anything more than a rumor. Logistically, I can't even see it as a possibility, but even so, I think such a feature would have required substantial work to put into place. As far as I know, the only track work that was done during this refurbishment was to replace a few pieces of track and to smooth and sand others. The only specific track removal I could note was on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) Peoplemover in which the old Space Mountain TTA maintenance bay (the one closer to the exit of the TTA/Space Mountain tunnel) track was completely removed.

^There will be a Transformers ride in Singapore and in Hollywood. The Singapore ride will open before Hollywood's version.

^That is the Imagineer, Alex Wright.

The official Disney Parks blog has been updated once more to include additional details and photos regarding the soon to re-open Space Mountain.

Universal Studios Singapore recently held an event to pull back the covers on their park, revealing concept art and details of the park that had never been seen before. Most interestingly are the included "sneak previews" of footage and animatics from several attractions that will debut with the park next year.

^From what I understand, they used the Soarin' interactive game as a base off which to work when designing this new queue experience. I can only assume that since it features a more hands-on system (as evidenced by the knobs seen above), this is a completely different software/hardware package.

Disney Parks' official blog has released new photos of the soon-to-reopen Space Mountain in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Complete with a newly enclosed station building and an interactive queue experience, its seems this original attraction is being brought into the newest "space age." http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/ In addition to the official Disney update, we have some fresh photos from inside of the Magic Kingdom to see the latest going on around Space Mountain. An overview of this "refreshed" classic's entrance plaza. How punny... Several posters and banners line the TTA's track reminding guests that the ride should be reopening soon. There seems to be some new rock work in the scene below. A mix of old and new can be found in the post-show/exit... Anyone get the tribute? Not much looks different inside of the lift besides the missing astronauts... Inside of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) pass-thru of Space Mountain, new signage has surfaced. The old gift shop beneath the Skyway was also removed... Another look at the new logo's color scheme. The former Skyway building was also refreshed during the Space Mountain refurbishment, with the entire top floor being demolished. The restrooms below were retained and refurbished for continued use. The entry building's logo has been updated as well. The Video Arcade has been repainted with a newer, more toned down color scheme. Cast members were out in front reminding guests that the attraction is not yet ready to open. They are currently telling guests that it will open towards the end of the month. Space Mountain's main logo has been updated to reflect the new lime green color found in and around its building.

This just made my excitement for Holiday World increase exponentially! I've been looking forward to riding The Voyage for quite some time, and getting to ride it with Timberliner trains should be an even more exciting experience!

So I heard from a little birdie that there may be another Deep South update in the near future... Unfortunately, the update is being held captive by an evil troll (related to that evil goblin that stole those magical hoodies in that epic movie) and he won't release it unless you reply... Another sign of his evil: he drinks Pepsi. He may release the update more quickly if you torture him with pictures of you drinking a refreshing Coke... Just figured I'd give you guys an update on the current state of our show.

I hope this family coaster is full of lockers and lots of rings...

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/11/disney-shanghai-theme-park-project-update/ Disney officially acknowledges its efforts in Shanghai, on of all places, its blog. Let me just say that I'm amazed they are publicizing the project this way, but I guess its exciting to see a new park in the works...

Now that October is over and I have a moment to spare to sit down to write another set of reviews, I think it is time for me to look at Howl-O-Scream 2009. After visiting Halloween Horror Nights for three years in a row (this being my third), I felt compelled to give Howl-O-Scream a try, considering all of the rave reviews I had heard over this year's event. I was definitely intrigued by the fact that several of the houses have been in place for several years and are annually plussed to make them even stronger for the coming year. Even more surprising was the fact that (at least the first time around in each of the houses) I was more scared in the Howl-O-Scream houses than I was in most of the Horror Nights houses. Balancing the two events solely on this year's offerings, I found Howl-O-Scream to have more effective first-time scares but seemed to fall short when it came to repeat visits... After one run thru, the fear seemed to be cut sufficiently. Having gone to Horror Nights nine times this season, I had no issue walking back into any of the houses and getting scared again. A second run through any of the Howl-O-Scream houses left me far less in fear and that was more of a disappointment than I expected, but I guess it made the first-time experience more genuine. Breaking into pieces, here is what I thought of Howl-O-Scream 2009: House of Vayne... Nightshade Toys: An interesting take on the "evil toys" genre. It had a few moments that caught me off guard, but I certainly found this toy factory to be a bit colorless for such a colorful concept. I couldn't help but compare this one to Chucky: Friends til the End, finding the Universal alternative superior in this case. My favorite part of the maze was its location--the maze is set in the former location of the old monorail station and getting to revisit the area for however brief a time brought back a flush of wonderful memories there. DED Pledge Week: If my pledge semester were anything like this, I think I'd probably have quit after day one... Torturous sorority sisters and a sorority house fit for Frankenstein's bride made for a well themed house that was both visually appealing and frightening all the same. Knowing so little of the history of Howl-O-Scream, I believe it was apparent that half of the house had a different theme in previous years as the sorority house slowly transforms from a modern-ish home on a typical Greek Row to a dungeon burdened by bodies and murdering contraptions. Overall the house was one of our favorites of the night, but I guess I couldn't help but to look into the strange transition that took place halfway through the house, as mentioned above. Death Row: Vengeance: This house delivered some very good scares, but for me was mostly standard. Taking place in a typical prison riddled with crazy inmates, the plot seems to write itself. Although most of the house was predictable, I found the final two scenes to be highly redeeming with a unique exit and an even better finale that (in my opinion) rivals the finale found in last year's Body Collectors house at Horror Nights. Reconstruction: The Doctor Is In: This was one of the scariest houses for me just because I had no clue as to what to expect or where to go. Uniquely, the house features a break-away point in which guests can take one of two paths to exit by. Making this choice isn't any easier thanks to an overpowering strobe light that left my friend and I seriously freaking out when half of our group disappeared from sight in seconds. The detail and scares within the house were exemplary and surprising, and the forked exit definitely served as a highlight for the experience. I've only had a few genuine moments of fear before, and this house has certainly delivered on a level I couldn't have expected. It should also be noted that this house makes use of the much-neglected Akbar's Adventure Tours attraction queue, which is a plus considering it has sat unused for years. Taste of Blood: This was a pretty standard vampire-based house. There wasn't anything too memorable to note, but it had a few good scares. It exists. 13: My first and favorite house of Howl-O-Scream--this thing serious scared the air out of my lungs! From the first scare to the last, I was panicked more than I had been in any other Haunted House I've ever been in. The size, scope and depth of this maze is impressive beyond belief and the simplicity of its scares makes it all the better. We revisited this house three times in the night just because of how much we enjoyed it. This was definitely my favorite experience of the night without a doubt. Trapped in the Walls: This house was generally freaky, so much so that we only chose to go through once. The house boasted a claustrophobic feel and a well designed environment that emphasizes your being in between the drywall and insulation. You'd be surprised how much they can pull off inside closed spaces--a giant set of sparks flying right by my feet had me worried for my safety, but I can't deny that the effect was impressive. Though not one of my overall favorites, this was probably the third scariest of the seven houses of the year. Full Moon Cabaret: I'm not a big show person to begin with, nor am I a big fan of magicians, so this guy didn't have much going for him from the start, but I went in with an open mind... But I do have to say that this was one of the worst magicians I've ever seen... The tricks were obvious and the man's act was boringly quiet. I saw no individual trick that truly wowed me, nor did I see any other audience member around me that was truly interested in the "show" that was going on before us. Not anything I'd give up valuable haunt time for again... Fiends: Too dated for its own good, Igor stole the show with the few references that were recent enough to grab a few chuckles. Eye candy aside, Fiends is need of a serious update to bring it back into the present... Scarezones: A surprisingly excellent aspect of the event. The amount of scareactors throughout the park and the quality of their scare efforts was astounding. "Bushmen" and other roaming scareactors delivered startling moments that helped me to realize that there are very few areas in the park where you are truly safe from the scare (something I've wished Horror Nights would adopt for quite some time). The few designated scarezones were also impressive, using surroundings and sets flawlessly to make sure you couldn't walk comfortably without worrying even a little. Overall Howl-O-Scream was an astoundingly impressive event, breaking my expectations with ease and delivering some of the best scares I've ever experienced. While it doesn't have the same fear factor the second time around, the event is absolutely worth at least one visit per season. With a strong lineup of continually-improving houses and an amazing park-wide "scare zone," any visitor has plenty to look forward to when they make their way into Busch Gardens for Howl-O-Scream.

^Busch Gardens Williamsburg treated us incredibly well on the East Coast trip, so I have no doubt you'll have a fantastic time with TPR on the IntimidaTour. The park has a great line-up of rides, shows and other experiences, so I'm sure your experience will be a great one!

^^I absolutely want to be a Lava Monster (referencing the above attraction)... I have a feeling Dan could eat this statement up without even trying... Its a shame Lava Monster can't be incorporated into Deal or No Deal, because I think I might just spend my life's savings on such a game...

Tonight I went back to Halloween Horror Nights to briefly check out the new scarezone set up in Sting Alley. Today was the first day of this test zone, with Michael Roddy and other Horror Nights creative team members present during its initial hours. The zone itself was quite interesting as it utilized several previous icons, as well as some scareactors from previous years. As small as it was, the scarezone was impressive and exciting, considering that the content of the zone may be a hint at what we could be seeing for Halloween Horror Nights 20 next year. Of the notable characters I could recognize were Jack Schmidt, Albert Caine, Cindy Caine, the Pumpkinhead from last year's American Gothic and the Usher himself. Heard overhead in the audio loop were segments of audio describing "Coming Attractions" from the voice of the Usher. Clips from Jigsaw, Chucky and the Usher were heard in the loop, but I'm pretty sure that the audio is borrowed from this year's existing track set. I do apologize for the quality of the photos, as they were taken on my phone, but hopefully these give a basic idea of what the scarezone has to offer. Mind you, the zone itself was quite small, so the few characters pictured were really what you got from the experience. I will likely be going back on Saturday to grab a few more photos, so hopefully I'll come back with some better shots later this week. Albert and Cindy Caine made a surprise visit to Sting Alley. Hopefully this isn't the last time we see them either... Let's not forget about this year's icon, The Usher. Maybe he'll be back next year. I always thought he and the Director would make a good team... For the few photos I took, Jack was able to pose for the majority of them. I truly missed seeing Jack after the Carnival of Carnage ended. My favorite icon tries to rub my back for real... And you thought you knew Jack. Guess who's back?

My deposit has been officially paid for the Middle America trip!

Let me just say that I'm extremely happy to see this park return in any form. This has always been my favorite of your works, so to see it come back to life is certainly exciting!

I echo the sentiment towards your absence... Come back to Orlando Matt!

I believe the scientific definition of a "Six Flags Day" is the illness or disease that carries the following symptoms: •The undying urge to yell out the number of flags the current experience is worth •The strange desire to dance to the tune of a long forgotten 90’s dance song •The primal urge to spit, stab, scream, curse, line jump and occasionally stand up on an Arrow Mine Train •The feeling of self-loathing for skipping out on Dollywood in favor of Six Flags America •The ever-lasting wish that you took the tunnel on every ride in the park There may be other symptoms my medical textbook does not have listed, but trust me when I say the above--I'm a doctor!

Name: Adam Roth Age: 18 What is your roller coaster count? 226 What is your home park? Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Seaworld Orlando, Aquatica, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach What is the nearest big city? Orlando, FL What is your occupation? Student, Co-founder of WDWCelebrations, Co-star of The Bryan and Adam Show About how many times a year do you visit a park (including your home park)? Too many times to possibly count. About how many times a year do you travel to a park that is not your home park? 3-5 When you travel do you go primarily to amusement parks or do you also try and hit other sites? I like to visit both kinds of tourist attractions What is the farthest you’ve traveled to go to an amusement park? Tokyo, Japan Does roller coaster time get in the way of family time? (Do you choose to miss your children’s or family’s sporting events, holidays, birthdays, etc…) No. Theme park time enables additional family/friend time Do you have any other major hobbies? WDWCelebrations, Computer games, movies, spending time with friends Do you get feelings of sadness in the offseason? Do you even have an offseason? Do you travel during the offseason? We don't an offseason here in Orlando. Do you consider yourself friends with someone you met who works at an amusement park? (Or reverse it, if you work or worked and an amusement park have you made friends with enthusiasts?) Not really, except for a few select friends (shout out to you Colin) Would it bother you to go to an amusement park by yourself? No. Have you gone to an amusement park by yourself? If so have you ever ran into another enthusiast and tagged along with them? Yes to the first question, and unfortunately yes. I learned my lesson (it was a fanboy stage in my life) and it will never happen again. Do you find it easy to make friends with other enthusiasts? For the most part, yes. How do you get your coaster news? Theme Park Review, Screamscape, friends within the industry, visual observation How many different forum sites do you regularly post on? Two. If there was a poll that asked a large pool of enthusiasts what their favorite roller coaster is, what do you think would be the top 3 responses be for wood? And for steel? Wood: T-Express, Boulder Dash, El Toro Steel: Bizarro (SFNE), Expedition GeForce, Millenium Force Same scenario but for amusement parks, what would be the top 3? Tokyo DisneySea, Holiday World, Epcot Have you ever “stole a kid” to get a credit on a kiddie coaster? Proudly, no. Do you cut other categories out of your budget to make trips to parks? (Entertainment, fast food, holidays, tobacco or alcohol, etc…) No. Before you visit a new park do you research the park finding the best way to navigate the park, get the best deals, or what days to go? Depending on the park, sometimes. Do you feel the roller coaster enthusiast community is a warm and accepting community, or a negative and discouraging community? Warm and accepting... With people like Robb, Elissa, Matt, Colin and all of the other great people on this site, I have not felt unwelcome for quite some time. But that Bryan kid--he's definitely trouble. Do you like to talk about your hobby with people who are not roller coaster enthusiasts? Sometimes, but I don't push the topic if they aren't interested.

Our ERT session on Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park was a crazy little weather experience powered by deadly winds, rain and lightning. The park continued to the run the coaster through the rain (making it an even scarier ride) with plenty of lightning close in sight. I still regard that as one of the craziest experiences I've had with Theme Park Review.