smells_like_team_disney

All I can say is.... WOW!!! That was an amazing TR, Erik. Thanks so much for posting, as it seems it was quite an undertaking. Well worth it!! So is it safe to say that Orlando really does have the best of everything ? That's it. No matter what happens next year, I definitely have to make it out to Florida in October .

Growing up in SoCal, I've been surrounded by corporate-grandula all my life. I can honestly say that I would prefer a smaller park over a larger park. Back when Knott's was still family-owned, I thought it was the greatest thing. Even as a child I considered it the poor man's Disney, but for some odd reason I always managed to have more fun there. As an adult, I realized it was because it was a more relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The park was loaded with charm, and there was never a rush to do everything or get your money's worth, like at Disneyland. Of course, nowadays that's a completely different story . I do look forward to visiting places like Holiday World, Knoebel's and Silver Dollar City. I feel it'll take me back to a once-cherished and long-lost place down Beach Blvd. in Buena Park .

My all time fave coaster would have to be Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's. It's such a simple layout, yet so effective and thrilling. It's the only coaster IMO that's managed not to get worse with age, unlike other former favorites. It's also the only coaster I seem to be able to ride over and over and over (and over) again and never get sick of it.

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^I don't know why, but I get the strangest deja vu feeling when looking at that picture :shock: .

I'm usually all over the place. There isn't a specific one I usually hit up, but I do tend to bypass the "Sticky" forums and head directly to the regular forums. TPR is the second website I visit in the morning and the last one before I go to bed. I usually spend 2-3 hours throughout the day, but I'm rarely online on the weekends. If the topic interests me, I usually read the entire thing in one sitting. I tend to favor Photo TRs, especially random ones! I'll browse the Photo pages of different parks every now and then for nostalgic reasons. I download once in a blue moon, and I also chat whenever I can. I love donkeys!

As fond as I am of mine, I have to give the edge to the big, green guy 8) . Al "it's all about GREEN" Gonzalez

Hey Haylee, welcome to the boards. You can buy and print tickets at home off their main website and save $10 (regular price $45). Just go to www.knotts.com and click on the "buy tickets" icon on the left. You can also ask a SoCal friend to purchase tickets for you and your husband. SoCal resident tickets are $31.

Ooooo, this all looks and sounds so delicious. Would love to trade with some of you when the time is right (meaning, when I have money ). You'll probably receive a pm from me (especially you, Soren) when you least expect it. And if anyone is interested in trying out some Mexican candy, let me know, although personally I'm not a fan of it. Al "looking forward to trying some of that German chocolate" Gonzalez, aka Urkel

Busch Gardens Tampa?! :shock: I would have guessed Williamsburg, but oh well.

Hang in there, Stitch. The best thing for you to do right now is to dive into other aspects of your life. Focus on work, school, spending more time with friends and family. With time, the pain will ease .

Yay, it's raining .

My most prized possession (my h.s. letterman jacket) is currently out of my hands . I decided to add some more patches and stitching after all these years, so if anything were to happen in the next two weeks, I trust it's in good hands .

Wow, this would definitely be a steal in my area. For $400,000 one would be lucky to find something like this in Whittier: Al "that's it, I'm moving to Florida" Gonzalez

^AAAAAAAH! Like I've always said, crack kills! :shock:

Welcome!!! Glad to see you found the opposite side of sanity!! Just remember to keep your hands and arms inside at all times.

It's all about the Class of '99! Go Cardinals!! Al "I'm not old, everyone else is too young" Gonzalez

Oh no, look what I started!!! Al "Your resident TPR-Urkel" Gonzalez

^I was looking at the Disney-centric restaurants, the parks, hotels, not anything you would find at Downtown Disney, and my group isn't really into character-dining. I know for a fact that we probably won't be going to places like Les Chefs de France, Victoria & Alberts, or even California Grill. I come from a family that has never gone to the Blue Bayou at Disneyland because we feel it's too expensive for what they offer. I would prefer places that give people a lot of menu options, not just in price but quantity. For example, do they offer a healthy selection of soups or appetizers, do they appeal to the carnivor and the vegetarian. Do they offer enough proteins and carbs, good choices in the fried, baked, broiled, steamed, sauteed department? I hope that's not too much to go by.

^Actually, the only ride to scare the poop out of me was the parachutes. The Corkscrew, no problem 8) . ^^Yes, you did in fact stand up on that ride, with no restraints whatsoever :shock: .

http://www.themeparkreview.com/haunt2005/haunt63.jpg AAAAAAH! Yes, those are definitely creepy :shock: . I think I'd rather take my chances with the large cock .

2 glasses of some funky Merlot. Don't know the name of it, but they serve it at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles. I felt bad that my friend paid so much for it, so I forced myself to drink it.... nasty stuff!

OK, don't laugh (eh, who am I kidding?). I found this old photo of me during my retro photo search. This was taken maybe 11 years ago. Can anyone guess who I'm trying to impersonate ? Did I do that????? Yes, I most certainly did!

Here are a few photos I managed to dig up from my parents' huge photo trunk. The first six are from my first trip in 1987, with the old Corkscrew prominently featured. This is the day I fell in love with going upside-down, a very intense feeling for a six-year-old, BTW (ahhh, love at first ride). The following are from a trip 4 years later. Funny thing, they all seem to be of rides that are no longer there . Anyway, enjoy . A night shot of the Tumbler (sniff). We were actually stuck on this thing for about 20 minutes.... good times, good times. My sister in her pre teenage-from-hell years (I love you, BRAT!). Does anyone actually remember these spinning barrels in Camp Snoopy? Yeah, me neither. One of the shows I truely miss at Knott's. It wasn't a stellar show, but it was one thing that gave it a certain edge over any other park within an hour away. I know that for most SoCal natives their first driving experience was on DL's Autopia, but I actually got my start on these years before stepping foot on Autopia. R.I.P. Gasoline Alley! We begin our 1991 segment with a familiar landmark, taken from us too soon..... yep, that's me coming down in that cage. After that first great ride, I decided to pose in front of my conquest with those less fortunate enough not to ride (some for obvious reasons). From left to right: uncle, me, cousin, bro. Entering the second inversion.... complete bliss! And down the hill she goes! Yup, that's me in there.... somewhere. Wow, what a lift! At 70 ft. this thing was a monster to any six-year-old. My uncle and older sister. I believe this is where the old Whirlpool used to be (now Wilderness Scrambler). Can anybody guess the name of the building in the back? First ride of the day, Tilt-a-Whirl. My dad must be very proud of his boys, what with them riding their first big ride. Needless to say, I graduated to the big-leagues about 20 minutes later;)

Well, you guys have done it again. I say this TR deserves two thumbs up and three "Hey, baby" smiles. Would have liked to see more of Yellow Shirt Man. though . I have to ask, is the Beverly really that bad? I'm one who doesn't like soda at all, so I was just wondering.