WestCoasterKing

That last over banked turn looks pretty inverty from this angle if you ask me. And so does that drop over the top hat into the first loop. Looks more like six inversions from where I'm sitting.

I used to think I wanted to build a FEC in the vein of an old trolley park, but I've since changed my mind. Instead I want an FEC that isn't just about mindless amusement, but also incorporates learning experiences and hands-on adventure experiences. I was thinking about something promotes that eco-friendliness, respect for the planet and teaches and helps to preserve the indigenous cultures. My park would have two phases. The first phase would be entirely indoors. The structure would be built to resemble an old temple and/or palace. It would have a hotel, a family oriented indoor waterpark with lots of climbing stuff, a restaurant, a small aquarium and nature center, plus attractions such as ropes courses, obstacle courses, play structures and a bounce house playground, all built to resemble jungley stuff. Of course, I also want a mini-golf, because I love indoor mini-golf and a jungle theme could really be cool in an indoor setting. There would also be be a few rides, but I would want as many as possible to be self-powered, like Huff and Puff at Knott's. Think pedal boats, hand cranks, etc. Phase two would be outdoors and be more ambitious. It would have a large lagoon with a island in the center. Picture Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. There would be a jungle cruise ride complete with animatronics, a jungle safari jeep ride also with animatronics, an adventure island with more climbey stuff, a Swiss Family Robinson/Tarzan style tree house, rope bridges, caves, creeks, etc. There would be more kids and family rides. Think a jungle version of Camp Snoopy. And there would be another water park, but this one would be aimed more at adults and have more thrill rides. It would be a single tower built into a fake volcano with any number of slides that could be replaced or expanded as needs arose. And of course, the volcano could be expanded on. (BTW I had this idea before I ever heard about Volcano Bay). At some point in the future I might include a third phase that has more thrill rides, but of course these would be built in such a way as to be hidden in the surrounding terrain (like at Alton Towers) and have massive Disney style theming. Roller coasters built into fake mountains rather than just sitting there looking like giant steel beasts. But again, these would all focusing on protecting the forests and cultures and the planet in general. That's what I would do if I had my own park.

I hope it's open by March 16 to be exact. Not that I'll be in town then, but it would still be cool for it to open with Boysenberry Festival. BTW, I wonder what kind of sway effect having a single spindly support holding up the "top hat" will have on the feel of entering that loop?

I went all the way to page 7 and couldn't find it!

Some old expression about a dress on a pig comes to mind. BTW, does those "OTSRs" actually do anything? I mean, really? REALLY? They look like someone ran out of material and said, "Oh $#%@ it. I meant to do that."

Some time back there was a thread about what people would do if they could build their own park or if they had $100 million dollars or something like that. But I can't find it now. And I don't want to start a whole new thread if there is already one. Can anybody point me in the right direction?

I am still so very disappointed that the Submarine ride was not enclosed into a dark ride. I know the target kid demographic probably doesn't care. But honestly, it makes no sense. It can't have been a cost saving measure because a building has got to be cheaper to build than an elevated "tram" platform. But back to Electric Eel. I didn't realize how close it was to Atlantis, though it makes sense. That's only spot in the park where anything of that height could be built. Atlantis is 95 feet if I'm not mistaken. I also didn't realize how close it was to the sea lion theater. I wonder how much of an effect the noise will have on the show.

^ I meant I never paid to park at a mall or shopping center. When it comes to things like amusement parks or beaches, those are considered activities. I always factor in parking for activities. But shopping is different thing to me. Shopping is not an activity. It is a necessity. I don't go to the mall to walk around, hang out and have fun. I'm going to purchase things that I need. I don't need entertainment an amusement. But imagine paying to park at the grocery store. I'm also not criticizing Knott's for charging for parking. I fully understand and support it. I'm in the camp of those who are mad at the people who did cheat and played the system to use the Marketplace for free amusement park parking and thus ruined it for everyone else. I'm just worried how the new parking policy will effect the future of the Marketplace. I don't fault Knott's and Cedar Fair, nor do I think it's a greedy money grab. It just sucks that some people had to ruin it for everyone.

Right. Of course. Forgot about the jetpacks. Duh. Sorry, dumb country boy from western Washington here.

^ Apparently it's quite a heated discussion topic on some of the local SoCal Facebook fan pages. It quite amusing to read through the comments and see how personally some people are taking the changes.

So they do have a cable in addition to chains? That makes me feel better. That was my question.

Man, I'm glad I live in a small town. We don't even have parking meters downtown. We used to, but they were killing downtown because people avoided the area like the plague, so they were removed. Now our downtown area is booming. I guess I just don't understand big city life. I live less an hour from Seattle, but aside from driving through on I-5, I rarely if ever actually go there. I also lived in SoCal while in college and don't remember ever paying for parking, aside from downtown LA of course.

Holy cow! I don't even like downtown parking meters. I would never, ever pay to shop. How does the public tolerate it? How does that even make sense?

What shopping center charges for parking? Especially in SoCal? Maybe in downtown LA. But most shopping centers have free parking. That's kind of the point.

A lap belt works great to keep people in their seats. I'm more concerned with keeping the seat attached to the tower.

Wrong park

My point remains. Trying to circumvent the system and save on parking won't work, because anything over an hour and you'll still have to pay $18 one way or another.

I take it you've never waited in line during the busy time for CDR. You can sometimes wait for up to an hour to get seated. Back in the day they actually a queue set up outside and people stood and waited. Now with these cool light up beeper things people can go walk the shops. But even still, once seated, it can easily take a couple hours by the time you're finished. A lot of people sit back and relax and talk. I for one rarely ever spend less two hours at any sit down restaurant when not dining alone. And of course the bigger your party, the longer it takes.

My question is mainly about these hundred plus foot tall spinning swing rides like the Starflyer. I know that when it comes to the smaller old carnival versions, the seats are just help up by chains. And there have been a few, not many but a few, instances where a chain link broke and the rider went flying. Up until now I don't think anyone has been killed in such accident, but if that were to happen at even just fifty feet, let alone 200 or 300, it could be deadly. Yes, I know there are dozens of these operating around the world for years without incident. But I still can't help but wonder. Do these rides work just like the little family friendly versions? Is it just a couple chains holding each seat, or are there cables as well. I understand these aren't chains like you buy at Home Depot. They are probably tempered and reinforced, but in the end they are still little interlocking rings of steel, each with a welded seam. What measures are in place to ensure that little welded seam doesn't separate, and if it did, what keeps the rider from flying away to their death? I just can't bring myself to place my life in the hands of tiny welds on on tiny links of chain.

So Knott's has once again changed the parking policy for Knott's Marketplace. The most recent change before this was one hour free and an additional two hours with a receipt from Chicken Dinner Restaurant (CDR), TGI Fridays or any other Marketplace retailer/food establishment. Literally you could go and buy a latte from Starbucks or a cookie from the bakery and get three hours free. But now they've changed it yet again. While the first hour is still free, now you only get the two additional hours free if you spend at least $18 from a Marketplace establishment. Now of course two people eating at CDR or Fridays will easily spend $18. But that experience will also pretty much use up your entire three hours. It wouldn't be of any financial benefit when the regular parking lot is already $18. I personally understand the point of view of Knott's. People have abused the Marketplace Parking for years, using it for cheap and even free amusement park parking. I don't believe the crackdown is a greedy money grab by the park. But at what point are they hurting what is left of the Marketplace? Right now the Marketplace is comprised of CDR, Fridays, Virginia's, the Emporium, the Snoopy Headquarters, the sports shop (which now appears to have been closed to allow for an expansion of the Snoopy store, the bakery, the candy store, Chicken-to-Go, Starbucks, the Berry Market, Cinnabon, the California Shop (I didn't even think that was still open honestly) and I think an ice cream or hot dog shop. Some of those can easily be hit an an hour, like Chicken-to-go, the Berry Market and the bakery. But aside from that, who is currently making a trip to the Marketplace solely to go shopping? I mean who wakes up one day and says, "Hey, I need some more Snoopy gear"? It seems like most of those other stores really only exist to cater to people coming and going from the park. At this point it almost seems it would make more sense to only keep CDR, Friday's, Chicken-to-go, the Berry Market, the bakery, and maybe a single gift shop, and raze the rest to expand the entrance area. Does anyone else have an opinion on this whole situation? Is Knott's being greedy or are they really just trying to crackdown on parking cheaters? And will this negatively impact the Marketplace in the long run? Oh an how about the east property? Who's going to make the trek over to Independence Hall now?

Is there going to be any access stairs along the lift hill? I have never seen a roller coaster without evacuation stairs, but none of the renderings or videos show them.

I wonder if maybe they have a plan to eventually just combine DCA into DLP into a single park. There is plenty of land between DCA and DLP along Harbor Blvd, where the currently buses park, to build another connection between the two parks. From there they could connect to Tomorrowland and the Hollywood Backlot/Marvel Land. Essentially, from this new entrance area one could directly access Main Street, Buena Vista Street, Tomorrowland or Hollywood Backlot/Marvel Land. I understand that Main Street as the entrance is iconic, but it is small and becomes very congested. If Main Street simply became another access point from a main entrance plaza that could work. It makes sense to me. What do you think?

I still think their plan, whether a fully fleshed idea out or half-assed thought, is to turn California Adventure into Hollywood Studios West. I would not be surprised if once Pixar Pier is finished and Marvel Land is complete, they then turn their attention to Grizzly Mountain. I predict a name change in the coming years. Although, I acknowledge a flaw to this idea, mainly if that is their ultimate plan then Star Wars Land should have been put in DCA and not DLP. But therein lies the half-assed part. So what do I really know?

Not enough.

I don't know the slang these days. Is balls good or bad?