Movieguy

Well, I was referring to IOA as a part of USF...back in the 90's there wasn't much of that park to speak of at all...but I guess people regard IOA as a complete seperate entity now...

A lot of parks seem to have grown, and some improved as a result, since the 1990's came and went, a time when among other things, the Swiss coaster machine in the form of B&M and Intamin ended Arrow's monopoly on steelies, and created an exciting new generation of rides, just one example of the new spirit of competition that emerged during the time period. Looking back, which parks have benefitted the most from this rapid growth, and improved vastly? My vote is split between Dollywood, for it's amazing additions in the past years, and Universal Studios Florida, for it's creation of IOA.

Happy B-day Erik! Hope it's a good one for you this year! What am I saying? Of course it will be...you're in frickin' FLORIDA! Doug "Almost time for the April snows in Upstate NY" Booth

You know, I never really had a problem with the Steel Phantom, or with head-banging on looping coasters in general now that I think about it...Never had my head thrown around like that...I think y'all just have weak necks My nomination goes to Disaster Transport at CP...awful rip-off of Space Mountain, and a ridiculously short one at that. They don't even bother to have working FX in there anymore. Ought to be used as a warehouse for coaster parts.

Well, I've been on Magnum lots of times in my life. I guess my opinion could be influenced by the fact they have millenium force now, but I remember that ride being pretty wild back in the early 90's, and it just doesn't seem quite at that level anymore. Then again, I was quite smaller in the earlier days too...

You know, Magnum XL 200 was the big coaster everyone was making a big deal about when it debuted at CP in 1989, but it seems it's becomming more and more of a trivial coaster as the years go on. Sure, some people still like it, but frankly, as I rode it each time in the coming years, it just lost a lot of the zing it used to have. Come to think of it, it seems almost every Arrow coaster I've heard of has a history of not aging well...the only exception I can think of at the moment is possibly Vortex at PKI. Any wooden coaster by the Summers/Dinn company seems to have the same problem of deterioration, of course that might be due to the parks putting trim brakes all over the things. What coasters do you all think haven't aged gracefully?

I for one am glad the NHL made the changes that it did. most of all, the elimination of ties from the game. I don't know about you, but I get kinda ticked when I tune into a game, and there's no winner at the end. It's why I never got into soccer either. Other than that, I haven't paid much attention to what's going on...mainly because my Penguins are still the worst team in the league...I'm sure they'll be forced to move soon, so yet another Southern city can have a team...I mean, god forbid a Southern city be without any pro sports team these days (No offense to any southerners on this board of course ) I mean look how quickly Charlotte regained an NBA team when the Hornets left. Doug "Embittered Northerner" Booth

Ohhhhh yes...the ever-present scourge of PG-13 horror, or "Pussy Horror" as I call it. We all have "The Ring" to thank for this stupid trend. And don't let that trailer fool you...they'll find a way to make Silent Hill PG-13 as well. Mark my words. Doug "If you want real horror, look at Japan's stuff" Booth

I first stayed in the Polynesian resort on my very first WDW trip, but I'm too young to remember that place. The Contemporary's always been a favorite of mine, because of the structure, the rooms, the proximity to the Magic Kingdom, among other things. I also really liked the Swan when I stayed there in 1995, but I guess that's not an official Disney resort either.

Hey, look, someone's flashing the on-ride photo camera! *sounds of tape pulling...*

Being from New York, we're pretty particular about our Pizza. (Yes, the obsession extends far north of NYC) I actually split a pizza with a friend at SFDL once in 1999, and it actually wasn't bad. It's a shame Pizza Hut didn't get this deal, but Papa John's is just as good. Around here, we're more into local chains, like Pudgies Pizza, as well as individual pizza places like Pizza Aroma. At least it's a step up from the park-made, almost Chuck E Cheese level of pizza that I've eaten at other parks.

Well I saw thw Japan-a-Mania DVD, so I know a few of them were death machines, but on the whole they seem smoother in Japan. Even those few rough TOGO's there probably don't even compare to the ultimate TOGO death machine, Manhattan Express.

I definitely have to go with the KMG Afterburner...I rode one of those at The New York State Fair, and I got back in line twice. I'm not sure if I'm brave enough to go on a Top-scan...frankly, the Huss Top Spins are crazy enough for me.

I rewatched my DVD of Blade Runner recently...now there's a sci-fi movie that's managed to hold up well over the years, mainly because you learn something new every time you watch it. A real credit to Ridley Scott's eye for detail. Granted, this is a movie that not too many people "get". I for one had some assistance, having read Paul Sammon's wonderful book "Future Noir", which gives an excelent account of Blade Runner's production, the initial failure of its theatrical release, then its growing popularity on home video, that lead to a cult following that exists today, and luckily isn't as in-your-face goofy as the Star Wars cult (From what I've seen anyway.) Anyway, for the uninitiated, Harrison Ford plays Rick Deckard, a downtrodden elite officer from Los Angeles in the year 2019, a dismal and dark place where it always rains, and artiificial humans known as "replicants" are used as off-world slave labor...4 of them come to Earth illegaly, and Deckard is put on the case to kill, or "retire" all four of these replicants. But that's just a part of it...Blade Runner has to be seen, not described. From the huge sets, fabulous minatures, bizzare, but memorable performances, to the wonderful synth music of Vangelis. You may like it, and you may not. At least give this film a shot, if you haven't already.

You know, I heard a rumor, that back when the now-defunct WCW was still around, they were gonna put a WCW Nitro themed coaster in one of the Six Flags parks... ...Maybe that's where SFGadv's "Nitro" got it's name from...

Why would they want to take this coaster out? From what I understand, the ride vastly improved once they replaced those awful OTSRs with lap bars. Doug "We already have a shortage of indoor coasters, damn it...don't make it worse, PKD" Booth

When I first heard of the "Magnum"...I seriously thought of that old TV show, "Magnum P.I"

This is a question that has dogged me ever since I heard the stories, and saw the video of that "Mega Coaster" in Japan that had the elements of both Viper and Manhattan Express. Why are the TOGO death machines in America so rough and torturous compared to the TOGO rides in Japan, which seem to offer somewhat smoother rides? Could it be somehow related to the way they're built in the US? Does the firm itself oversee the construction, or is it all done by American construction crews? TOGO could have some very specific ways in which their coasters are put together, and we haven't quite mastered them yet. But that's just speculation from me.

Are there any ride names out there that just make you want to laugh each time you hear them? One that gets me every time is, of course, "Screw Coaster" at Nara Dreamland. Another one I get a chuckle out of is "Montezuma's Revenge" at Knotts Berry Farm, because as some of you may know, Montezuma's Revenge can be used as a euphemism for a certain kind of digestive disorder. Doug "I wonder if people take Immodium AD on that coaster?" Booth

hmmmmm...that's somewhat close to what I'm looking for...but it's not the ambient sound I've been talking about...that sounds more like the old version of it, as opposed to the current ambient sound they play in that corridor today.

Well, that's a nice piece of music...but I already have it, and thus it's not what I'm looking for. I'm searching for the ambient sounds you hear further on in the queue. I remember these ambient sounds used to be on Audiogalaxy as well, but that's the only P2P type thing I've ever found it on. Looks like I might just have to accept that nobody has this file anymore. ^^;;

That really doesn't do me much good, because I can't remember the address of the website...it's been well over three years since I was there last. Searches are turning up zero results as well.

Nope. That's the entrance music. I'm looking for the stuff you hear in the corridor where you see the planets, the milky way, and the little Space Mountain vehicle running around in those little starry windows. There was a website you could get it from, but it went down a long time ago.

I wasn't too sure where to ask this, so I came here to do it... I used to have a decent MP3 of the ambient sounds of the queue at Space Mountain in WDW...not the entrance music, or the "Star Tunnel" music, but the nice semi-trippy sounds and music you hear between the entrance and the loading platform, where all the holograms of the planets reside. Unfortunately, I lost the file 2 years ago due to some problems with my computer that required me to delete a lot of stuff. I've been searching all over for the thing, but I just can't find it. Is there anyone who has this file, and knows where to get it? I'd greatly appreciate any help or advice. I'd like to use it for a coaster I'm building in RCT 3.

BGW...oops, I mean BGE is such a great place, the atmosphere, the rides, the food, just everything. I wish I was there right now in the worst way. And don't be so ashamed about it being a solo trip. I go on those all the time. That big trip I took last year to Florida was solo, and I thought nothing of it, mainly because I enjoy being by myself I guess. You don't need to surround yourself with people in public to feel good. Doug "It's only 'sad and pathetic' if you think it is." Booth