cparkes92

Europa Park B&M stand-ups or Togo stand-ups?

When Lightning Rod runs reliably for an entire season (remember Dollywood has a very long season for a seasonal park)

Ultra Twister (Nagashima Spa Land)

Writing two tests on the best weather day of the year! What's worse than getting stuck on the side of the road?

7/10 (never been there, but heard it's decent) Walmart

I've only been on five drop rides: Demon Drop (Cedar Point) Dr. Doom's Fearfall (Islands of Adventure) Giant Drop (SFGAm) Power Tower (Cedar Point) Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios) My favorite of those five is Power Tower

I know the locker situation over in Hogsmeade was dire when I went last March, even though the park itself wasn't very busy. I'd imagine that it would be a complete shit show during high season (Christmas week especially). I had problems getting my fingerprint to work so I could get stuff out of my locker, especially at Rockit (the line for the ride was short enough that I was able to ride twice in the hour alloted). The process would go a little easier if more people had fanny packs (next time I go to a theme park, I should think about getting a fanny pack so I only have one thing to put in a locker instead of multiple things, especially phones, wallets, and loose change). Universal needs to invest in more of those fluffy bunnies over in Hogsmeade. At least they have enough of those near Rockit! I'm not a big fan of Universal's newer rides, especially the two Harry Potter rides. Those both made me feel a little nauseous, so I've skipped them the last couple of times I've been there in order to ride rides like Mummy, Men in Black, Rockit, Dragon Challenge, Dr. Doom's, and Hulk. However, the theming in the Harry Potter areas is among the best I've seen in any park.

Millennium Force Mount Olympus

Yes, but I've never ridden it (or even been to Europe) Have you ridden a Boomerang clone?

Granted, but they don't tour anywhere near you. I wish Freddie Mercury were still alive.

To make it worse, you fail all of your tests. I just ate at my favorite restaurant.

I don't play video games that much, but here are my favorites: 1. RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 2. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 3. SimCity 4 (SC 2013 sucks) 4. RollerCoaster Tycoon 5. Madden 2009 6. Super Smash Bros Brawl (never owned it, played in college with friends that had it) 7. SimCity 3000 8. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 9. SimGolf 10. NCAA Football 11 (never owned it, played with roommate in college) Here are some games I would really like to play: Cities: Skylines Planet Coaster Parkitect Golf with Friends Tower Unite Mini Golf I'd also like to try out RollerCoaster Tycoon World to see how bad it is

I'm glad you enjoyed Garth! I saw him on back to back nights when he came to Grand Rapids in May. Both shows were excellent (the second one may have topped the first despite it being his fifth show of the weekend and second of that day). My sister's a big fan of Garth so when the shows were announced, she had two computers and her phone going trying to get tickets. She also got to see a third show with some of her friends from work. Back on topic, the last concert I saw was LoCash in Traverse City the Saturday before Thanksgiving (in the middle of a snowstorm). I have tentative plans to see David Allan Coe in Traverse City the end of February. Just found out that Queen + Adam Lambert are coming back to the Palace in July, so I'll probably go to that show (saw them in 2014 and it was amazing).

Both should be busy, being weekends in August. Remember most schools in Michigan don't start until after Labor Day. Last year I went the weekend after Memorial Day (June 4 and 5). Saturday was packed. Sunday was very quiet. In six hours on Saturday, I only got on four rides (with wait times in parentheses): Valrvan (1.5 hours) Iron Dragon (20 minutes) Top Thrill Dragster (1 hour - this ride closes in rain, but it was sprinkling when I rode it!) Millennium Force (1.5 hours - it was raining steady on my ride) After Millie, I left as it was raining and I was quite hungry. I went back Sunday morning for three hours (I stayed at the Hotel Breakers so I was able to get in early) and I managed to get 10 rides in: GateKeeper (first train of day, waited 10 minutes for more people to get in the station as everyone and their brother went toward Valravn) Millennium Force (two rides, 5 minute wait each plus time to walk around from exit to entrance) Maverick (less than 5 minutes) The above rides were all before official park opening! Magnum (walk-on) Top Thrill Dragster (5 minutes) Rougarou (walk-on) Millennium Force for the third time (5 minutes) Iron Dragon (walk-on) Raptor (5 minutes) Every ride on Sunday was a walk-on or near walk-on except Valravn, which was over an hour. Side note: This was the Sunday the big storm hit Cedar Point in the afternoon. I happened to drive through it on the Turnpike near Fremont and it was nasty on there (doesn't help that the Turnpike is overrun with semis which splash water onto windshields). I think the weather forecast scared people away and it also happened to be the most popular day for high school graduation ceremonies and open houses in Ohio and Michigan.

I knew this would be mentioned early

Also coaster-related!

One silver lining: 2017 is off to a slower start (so far) than 2016, with MTM being the only widely-known celebrity to pass so far. At this point last year, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, and Glenn Frey had all passed away

The last few times I've flown it's usually been Southwest (since they started flying into Grand Rapids). Before Southwest flew into Grand Rapids, it was usually Northwest/Delta through Detroit. I've also flown on Allegiant and United. I will probably never fly on Allegiant again as they nickel and dime you on everything and the flight was delayed for two hours (including a solid hour on the plane) without ANY updates at all. One positive thing about Allegiant is that it didn't take very long to get luggage and get to our ride once we landed at Sanford since SFB is A LOT smaller than MCO. At least we got there in one piece and our return was on Southwest.

For me, it's Chick-fil-A. One just opened up a couple of weeks ago near my sister's house in Grand Rapids and I've been there. It was really good. They are extremely organized! There was a line out through the parking lot to the main road (CFA's entrance is off a side road behind a Bob Evans) and I was through there in less than a half hour. There were people stationed in the line with iPads taking orders and more people taking the money before the drive thru window. I would imagine it was moving smoothly inside as well even though the line was to the door. Onto the food, my sister and I had chicken nuggets (which are nothing like the nuggets other fast food places sell) which were yummy! Of the other places, I've only had KFC. Zaxby's, Church's, and Raising Cane's don't have any locations within 200 miles of me (as far as I know). I've never had Popeye's despite there being at least one location in Grand Rapids (it's in a part of town that I don't get to often).

You just summed up the GP in one sentence

Usually stay at the Marriott Grand Vista. Beautiful resort. I would have to agree with you on Grande Vista. Stayed there each of the last three years during the same timeframe (late February-early March). Very nice resort! They have "suites" which are actually two units attached to each other that are perfect for families. It's also in a very good location (just south of Sea World and within 10 miles of Disney and Universal; also within reasonable distance of shopping and tourist traps). Back somewhat on topic, while in Orlando last year we stopped at Disney Springs to eat and I could tell how much work had gone into changing it from Downtown Disney, especially in the middle section on what used to be Pleasure Island.

Just went on the website and here is what they have listed on the thrill rides page under Goliath: It never held the height record (although it still holds the record for longest drop on a wooden coaster) and lost the speed record to Lightning Rod (whenever that coaster has operated)

I have a possible name for RMC Mean Streak: Lightning Bolt (Mean Streak's logo included a lightning bolt and RMC already has a ride named Lightning Rod; rumor has it RMC Streak will be the tallest and fastest RMC hybrid [but will have a chain lift]).

White Cyclone looks like a Japanese version of Mean Streak (but not quite as rough)

Finally read this thread and it looks like you all had lots of fun! Haven't been to Disney since 2004, but would love to go back someday