Movieguy

^ That's a good choice. While I appreciate rides like TT and Mission: Space, I do miss that old spirit that Epcot had, "Boring" as it may have been to some. It was a personification of a time when people were actually optimistic about the future.

I admit, it looks cool...but c'mon, this is Fuji-Q. They'll find some way to make this thing suck.

I second that. Those things seem to be put together for the sole purpose of giving you a headache. Is there an SLC anywhere, that doesn't bash your head apart without needing those new restraints, like the ones Great Nor'Easter got? Update: I forgot about Kumali. I'd make an exception for that one.

The New Texas Giant is certainly impressive to see, but I've yet to ride it. Phantom's Revenge definitely stands out as one of the all time best refurbs. Morgan really took a good, long look at what we coaster fanatics want from a ride like that, when they took apart the old Arrow death machine, and put it back together with their improvements. I can't really think of a refurb going wrong for a coaster at this moment...

Predator actually used to be a good coaster back when it first opened. It'd be nice to see that one get some topper track, and maybe some other little tweaks, to turn it back into the major ride it used to be.

I'm on the verge of a new trip, as I've mentioned before, and I've been looking through this thread to see any mention of the parks I'm going to. I already know about Kennywood and their fries, of course. Plus, it seems that Del Grossos makes good pizza, and other Italian fare, which is why I'm going there the same day I'm hitting Lakemont. I love hearing that Idlewild makes gyros as well. The fact they serve Potato Patch fries too is very encouraging. I also remember that they gave Robb and the guys some good looking doughnuts when they visited on the Behemoth Bash trip . Do they serve those at the park, or was that a special treat for the visit? Is there anything I should look out for at Waldameer Park, or is all their fare pretty standard?

By far, the worst had to be Storm Runner, when I went to Hersheypark last summer. The line barely ever moved, even though they were running 2 trains. I found out later on, that they were basically keeping one train in the station until the other one came back, even after it had loaded, essentially making it a 1 train operating day. I mean, what is the point of having two trains, if you're not gonna utilize them to the full extent of their potential efficiency? Then, the ride broke down for an indeterminate amount of time, and I just said "screw this" and left the line. I never see many efficiency issues at PA parks in general, but there was a glaring exception. I also remember going to Darien Lake during the time SF owned it, and the same kind of efficiency issues plagued both Ride of Steel and Predator. On top of that, they were only running one train on Mind Eraser, on a busy day, which I found completely preposterous.

OK, I have a bit of a problem here. I always go on these trips with the help of my TomTom GPS, but it doesn't seem to have either Del Grosso's or Idlewild listed under the destinations for their respective towns. I tried to set a route to Del Grosso's by address, but it then said there was no known address on E Pleasant Valley Blvd when I tried to put it in. I'm not completely familiar with how to work in depth on a GPS. Is there any way I can correct these missing listings?

I think it's because German ride-ops are much more enthusiastic about their jobs, and really give it their all, so they don't really need all that many. Granted, while places like Knoebels can be pretty efficient too, most American ride op's seem to consist of lazy, unenthusiastic teens and twenty-somethings, who give off the impression that almost anything is beneath them, including working at a park, so they need more op's to try and keep up with the crowds over here. They're not ALL like that, but I have been to certain parks where I've seen that kind of attitude from the employees. CP was a nice exception back in the day, but I haven' been back since 2002, and have no clue what it's like now.

I was shocked to hear this. I watched wrestling all the time growing up, and Savage was always one of my favorites. Sure, he had a tumultuous personal life, but I can't forget all the great memories he gave me. Back in the day, Savage was a master at planning out and choreographing matches. His most famous match, arguably, was against Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania III. For that match, Steamboat visited Savage at his home, and they carefully went over every second, and every stunt they were going to do in that match. Anyone whose done theater, like me, knows it takes a lot of time and effort to plan out things like this, especially if you want them done well. Yes, the man was far from a saint in reality, and he had a very strange personality all around, but he committed to entertaining people in a way I've seen few others have. He will be missed greatly, by me, and others who grew up watching him dive off with that big elbow over and over. Also, do a search sometime for his brother, Lanny Poffo. He is one of the coolest, and most approachable guys who ever worked in Pro Wrestling, and he gives wonderful interviews.

As interesting as this looks, I still have this feeling that Fuji-Q's gonna find a way to make the ride absolutely suck, just like with Eejanaika. I've seen the trip videos, and they've got the complete crappy park experience down to a science.

To me, planking is just another bizarre fad, right up there with that whole "All Your Base..." thing years ago, and those kids shoes with the wheels in the heels.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/20/randy-savage-car-accident-macho-man-dead-dies-died-killed-wwe-wrestler-florida/ Former wrestler Macho Man Randy Savage died on Friday in a car crash down in Florida. He had either fallen asleep at the wheel, or had a heart attack. He was only 58 years old, and had just been re-married for about a year. I watched WWF wrestling religiously as a kid, and this guy was one of my all-time favorites, and was in one of my all time favorite matches (Him and Ricky Steamboat in Wrestlemania III). My heart sank when I heard this news. So long Savage...me, and others who grew up watching you, are gonna miss you big time.

Well, I'm about 5'7 and currently about 230 lbs, and I've never really had a problem fitting into the coasters at Kennywood. I've not ridden Sky Rocket yet, but I doubt I'll have much trouble fitting in that one. Don't know about your stats though, so it's tough to say.

We had our first rehearsal of HMS Pinafore tonight, and it went rather well. The others seem to like my Dick Deadeye a lot. Oh no! Participating in the arts. I'm going to hell for sure!

Darien Lake: I'm glad to see they finally got a new coaster a few years ago, but this park is still pretty far down my list. It doesn't really have the charm that a lot of the parks I visit in PA have, and it still doesn't have any major league coasters outside of Ride of Steel. Plus, I still think they need to give the Predator some topper track to make it actually worth my time.

I've been playing more of Red Dead Redemption, after a long hiatus from it. I forgot how amazingly fun it can be.

^ well, that's good to hear. I much prefer Reptile as a disguised ninja than as a fully exposed lizard-thing, even though his design has improved a bit in this version of MK. Ermac, I definitely prefer as a red ninja, rather than this black mummy-like creature they've made him now.

^ That's ridiculous. Why do they put the retro costume concept art in the Krypt if they're not even gonna release them as dlc? Why should I only get Scorpion's because I pre-ordered it at Gamestop? That is such a cheat.

I am loving the new MK. I just wish the Playstation store would come back up, so that I could buy the rest of the retro outfits. I don't really game online, because when I try it, I really suck at it. I can't figure out human opponents the same way I can with CPU opponents. Any advice from the experts on here would be greatly appreciated.

Phil Hartman is one of those deceased actors I still REALLY miss to this day. Poor guy left us way too soon.

^ You know, that wasn't even Rowan Atkinson as Zazu in that show. It was Michael Gough.

My current favorites: Gabriel Iglesias: He's great with voices and sound effects like Michael Winslow, and he's actually funny! Lisa Lampanelli: People who actually think she's racist are way too uptight IMO. She's making fun of that kind of thinking, I can tell, and she's great at it. Best female comic out there today. Also, has Jeff Dunham been doing anything at all lately? I see him as the best ventriloquist comedian out there now.

Oh, you guys don't get rained on the way we do up here in Ithaca. We had like 17 straight days of rain up here during April, and it's been raining again for the past few days. I think someone in this town said we actually get about as much rain as Seattle, so any place else is an improvement to me. besides, I found when I go in these trips, the weather is usually pretty cooperative. Even when I went to Knoebels back in 08, and it rained on one of the days I was there, I still had a good time, so I'm not too worried.

Hmmm...I wonder if this change has to do with the fact that Gilbert made those inappropriate jokes about the victims in Japan a while ago. He already lost his job with Aflac because of it. Just speculating. Never got to see the original show, but I didn't see what was so bad about Under New Management. Not an A-level show, of course, but not horrible to me either.