mxman005

I just drove by The Dania Beach Hurricane yesterday and today and so wanted to stop. I already had the credit and tried to talk my girlfriend in stopping in so she could gain another credit. However after a long day of fighting with Miami traffic we were ready to get out of South Florida. From what I remember it was a decent ride a few years back. I felt like it needed some TLC.

Hmmm.. Somethign different but it really does seem like another boardwalk but maybe a bit fancier. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jellyrolls moved over there. The last time I was at Jellyrolls the place was very quiet and that was mid summer. Maybe I was there on an off night. Moving it over there certainly would be an easy way to liven it up. Some sort of live music would be a nice thing to incorporate.

Looks like IAAPA is off to a great start. I'm hoping (crossing my fingers) that I get the chance to go visit on Thursday. Being right down the street, but not being able to go to IAAPA really does suck. Thanks for all the great coverage and keep it coming. I know this is pertaining to the other thread but has Baker Leisure put up anythign in thier booth about Orlando Thrill Park?

I've gotten the chance to tour this factory a few times. I never even knew it existed up until about 5 years ago. Last I was in house they were working on some stuff for the Universal Singapore. I believe it was for the Treasure Hunters attraction. For all of the Nights in White Satin Fans (aka the best freaking dark ride ever), in the painting room they do have a few murals up from that attraction. This was during the transition period from Hard Rock to Freestyle and I asked them what the fate of the attraction was. My tour guide said she didn't even know anythign about the park closing. I doubt they really give any sensitive information to the tour guides. The last one I had said she only works 2 days a week.

I talked to Stan Checketts at IAAPA and he told me that the he and his staff are really excited for this. I was also told that they are only saying 130mph but in fact in might be higher than that. I think it will be a quality product and will only push developers to make more coasters that will go faster. People are always wanting higher, and faster(maybe not parks but the enthusiast do) and this will just keep on pushing the race for that and new record breaking coasters. Alot of you out there are complaining but I think its going to be awesome. Maybe a short ride but still faster than anything you ever been on. Look at all the other rides that are similar in caliber. Yeah some of them might be tall too but there is nothing to them at all. Go Fast, Go up, come back down, if your lucky you get a small extra hill.

i went to ICE last year and it looks like they have made some additions. I don't remember the ornaments from last year, and i think they have changed around the slides Last year they had 2 small ones for kids, and then 2 larger ones that got going pretty fast and actually turned. Is the picture you have is a few of them or is there many of them that are outside the shot. Great TR. Even though I live in Orlando I love seeing other peoples pics. Really looking forward to the grinchmas b/c I'm not gonna be able to get out there this year.

It is going to be in Vegas next year. 2 years ago it was in Atlanta and there wasn't a great turnout. The smartest thing to do is to go where the industry is big. For instance this week, alot of break out sessions have been going to tours of Disney parks, Universal parks, water parks around orlando and such. In my eyes orlando is the best place for it but I also live here and like not having to pay for flights. I have talked with someone at the Orange County Convention center telling me that IAAPA would like to make that its home for the Attractions Expo. If that will happen, who knows.

Hey. I saw you in the press room this morning. I have been covering the show since Tuesday for my site that I am currently working on. (www.amusementlife.com) Was gonna walk up and introduce myself but I was on my way out to do some work right as I had noticed you. Anyways I hope you had a great time. I plan on posting a few pictures later on. B&M was there but with a very small booth but they actually had some different brochures this year. Look for some pictures sometime tomorrow or later tonight

When was the zamperla Disko operating? I was there that same day and when we went by it wasn't operating. Oh well. IAAPA is coming this week and hopefully they will bring a Disko again like last year.

Ill try and think about everything that has changed as in attractions, shows and parades. Hopefully Ill hit everything. It wouldn't surprise me if I list something that already have been on too. Magic Kingdom Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor- Stand up comedy done by characters of the Monster Inc. movie. Haunted Mansion- Not the whole ride but they have updated some sound, a few scenes have been completely redone Disney Dreams Come True Parade- Formerly Share a Dream Come True. Not a big change from the other. Just new music but mostly all the same characters Dream Along With Mickey- Castle stage show. Personally it reminds me alot of class disney stuff. EPCOT Innoventions- They have added new stuff all throughout Innoventions. I don't ever go in there but I know they have a new Hurricane simmulater, and I think there is a new IBM kiosk. Kim Possible- Recently they added a Kim Possible game that takes kids throughout the World Showcase and they solve mysteries I think. Haven't been able to even see any cast members to ask them about it. Disneys Hollywood Studios- Used to be Disney MGM Studios Toy Story Midway Mania- 4d interactive dark ride. Its a ride thats a game. Alot of fun and kids will love it. Block Party Bash- New parade that replace stars and motorcars. Uses all Pixar characters from Monster Inc, Toy Story, and Bugs Life. High energy level and they usually try to get the kids involved. Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest- All depends on when you went in 06, if you went at the same time you are planning for 09 then probably didn't get to ride this. Decent coaster. Nothing to scary or thrilling. Will more than likely be the longest wait in the park I think that's everything. If I remember anything else ill be sure to let you know about it. Also if anyone in your familys birthday is during that time when your visiting, register them and they will get into the park for free.[/b]

Orlando really needs something like that intamin. Everything here is over run with inversions and such.

Now officially the background to my computer. might look a little weird though when I take my lap top to class and people see a trojan ad as my back ground. Thatch hilarious

I also got a chance to go to the preview last night. Sorry no pictures. Very first thing I did was Bill and Ted. I didn't find it that great at all. In fact the best part was the final dance but even that I think was a bit lack luster. I think the quality of this show keeps on going down from year to year due the fear of law suits. I got to 5 of the 8 houses. Its really hard to give a a good opinion of them yet. I will go and say I didn't think any of them were that great and one I thought was more funny than scary. (There's just something about seeing Cinderellas leg cut off) All the scare actors were doing there first "real" show and once they get more used to there characters hopefully they will get better. I also seem to have high hopes every year and when they don't match I get disappointed. On the brighter side, there was $2 draught beers. Only for the preview though. I do plan on going back at least one more time, possibly 2 more times. Hopefully its gets better.

I was lucky enough to visit the park back in June and I thought it was a great park. I was looking forward to returning there at some point. With this new I don't know if I will have that chance. My personal beliefs for them failing were marketing and wages. The only reason I knew about this park was through Theme Park Fansites and other Theme Park new sites. It also didn't hurt that I knew a couple of the park management. Even when driving up the location there was a serious lack of marketing. I know the park wasn't officially owned by Hard Rock but I think it would have been really easy to strike a deal with them at least marketing in the hard rock cafe's around the country. I knew a few of the front line workers there and they were getting paid quite well. Much higher than than some of the major theme parks in Orlando.

I must say that I am extremely jealous of the opening ceremony you guys got out in California. We had nothing like that at all here in Florida. Our media day was kinda lackluster. I understand that this is the first thing that is really going to turn around DCA and it needs it. Congratulations California on your opening. Get ready for 2 hour waits. Were getting it here in Florida, but luckily our queue is air conditioned.

Will be in the park in exactly one week. Hopefully I'll have TR whenever I get back. With RPM too.

Alright. Time to put my two sense into this conversation. Ive ridden both of them and have been able to experience Simpsons twice, and TSM more than enough times. Lets start off with Simpsons. How Erik explained it and gave an explanation is just how I thought. I thought it was ok but its nothing that I would run to every time I go to Universal. I kinda wish they would have kept BTTF and just updated the video. I've never been the biggest fan of Simpsons but I didn't let that hinder my judgment. The queue is neat and I like that they can keep the riders entertained with show clips. I did really enjoy the clip on how Krustyland took over The Institute of Future Technology. The ride didn't really do much for me. One of the good things is that the story is really easy to follow even if have a general idea of the Simpsons tv show. On to Toy Story Mania. I really enjoy it and I think its a hit. Guest satisfaction has been through the roof. It seems that almost every guest that comes off of it has been more than overwhelmed. Its really fun and its re-rideability I think is very high. One of the negatives is that your arm hurts from pulling that string so many damn times. I wish that they could have put a bit more into the actual ride like an animatronic or two. Even a simple Mr. Potato head at the end would be cool. You don't really focus to much off of your score screen though so the animatronic kind of would be a waste of time. I think its perfect for the Studios and will work well. Ive heard of few rumors that have been thrown out there and I'm not sure what to think what will be coming to the studios but this is a good start. This park needs to get up to be a full day park because I don't find it to be one right now. Overall If I had to pick one that was better I woudl have to say that is easily Toy Story Mania. I do have my reasons to be biased though. Come on down to Orlando and try them out for yourself though. I have talked to people that think Simpsons was better (only one or two) but its all personal preference.

Home park?? Living in Orlando its kinda hard to choose a home park so ill just say what I think is the best coaster in Orlando- Kraken

I went and rode it on Wednesday and wasn't a huge fan of it. I think that queue video was a bit to short. I talked to some team members and I was informed that the second dome wasn't open yet but they were hoping to open it around their grand opening. Opening that dome will cut down the wait time tremendously. I think that one reason I don't like it is that I really like bttf. I think that they could have put a bit more money into it and made it a decent ride. I wasn't a huge fan of the ride animation. I am by no means a "huge" Simpson's watcher but I expected the animation similar to the tv show. I rode on level one all the way against the side wall so maybe I had a bad seat. Unfortunately there just hasn't been any advancements in motion simulators except for digital projectors. I just didn't "WOW" me in any way.

I work at an attraction where we have no single riders line so I can't answer this for myself but I talked to a few people that I know were working at IOA on that day and it really all depend on the express line. The point I was given was that if there is a long express line, the singles add to more of a back up and since universal pretty much guarantees 10-15 minute waits at most they have to try and stick with that. Disney just says "Minimal wait time" which i think is better than telling guest a time and trying to have to stick with that.

I like to see tiger win but every time the sports report came on I couldn't not think about coasters when I saw this guy. There all around me. GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!

I was at IOA on Friday night for a special event and it was pretty busy then but it was a special event so I was expecting the long lines, luckily I happen to know the right people to not have to wait in lines. Anyways, I'm surprised to see how busy Universal was on Saturday. I went over to Hollywood Studios (ahem MGM Studios) and it didn't seem all that busy to me. That just goes to show you how much crowds Mardi Gras brings in and that is especially true when you have a somewhat big name like LL Cool J coming in. In your pics I saw that one team member rolling around in the electric wheel chair. If he is the same guy that I have met over at Beetljuices Graveyard Revue he is awesome. Really entertaining. I'm thinking that this might have been our last "bad" weekend, hopefully we'll start getting down to a bit slower time.

I drive by Wet N Wild ALL the time. I am about 99% sure that they don't have any metal detectors. The last time I visited this park I know for a fact that I didn't have to walk through any. Non of the parks here in central Florida have any form of metal detectors. The only time you see them is for HHN at Universal. They might use them for the Halloween event at Busch Gardens Africa but I haven't gotten a chance to get down there and check that event out. I also know that Universal uses these metal detectors for their grad bash event and I believe that Disney might use them for grad nite.

It is looking at like in May I'm gonna have a chance to get up there. Really excited. The Screamscape update is pretty cool. I checked it out earlier. Very in depth. Can't Wait.

Alright.. I noticed something saying on an earlier page to try and use anim8tor to create objects. I have downloaded the program, and I also found a object creator. Can anybody maybe direct me to a link that has full tutorials for these. I really want to create some Egyptian objects to use with a themed coaster Im in the process of trying to complete, just missing the theming items now. Or if somebody knows a place that has a few I can download that woudl be awesome.