MrMorgan

The first thing that comes to my mind is this: if you only do one park in the Tokyo area, it MUST be Disneysea!!! I know you said that you were probably doing the Disney parks anyways, but I just thought I'd mention it. I was in Tokyo about 6 years ago, and I'm sure the prices have changed a little since then, but we enjoyed our few hours at LaQua for what it was worth. If I remember correctly, they open and close their rides at strange times though, so be sure to check before and when you get there to make sure you get everything in that you want. Thunder Dolphin was a lot of fun, but it's not on par with other Mega-coasters of it's size, (Expedition Ge-Force and Goliath in Holland come to mind). But, the fact that it is up so high on the building makes it a really cool experience! Robb and Elissa have definitely more experience with Laqua and I'm sure will give you some sound advice, but I thought I'd give you something to read in the mean time

Hi cruisers. Here is my latest vid from our Bahamas cruise on the Monarch of the Seas: The best advice I can give you is take the long walk back to Barefoot Beach! It is totally worth it! I wish we had found it sooner in the day, (check out the end of the video). Anyone who has been to any of the other "private islands" owned by cruise companies, how does Coco Cay compare?

Wow, I can totally understand why that would be frustrating! What a bummer! If you do send some kind of note to "complain" to the park, it has been my experience that you always have a better chance of getting what you want if you are actually nice. You may be asking yourself "How can I complain in a nice way?". Well, just put yourself in the shoes of the person who may or may not be able to get you into the event. Wouldn't you much rather help someone who was kind, reasonable, and explanatory than someone who was whiny and rude? I'm not saying YOU are because I don't know you, of course, but from my park experience, I have noticed so many times people standing at Guest Relations and totally whining and b-itching. I always think, "Who's gonna want to help those people???" Anyways, If I were you, I would write a letter to the park with the subject "Guest Relations: Harry Potter Passholder Event", (or something similar). Begin the letter talking about how much you love the park, how much time you've spent there as a passholder, and maybe add some fun memory of how much you and your dad enjoyed riding "Forbidden Journey" for the first time and how cool you think it is. Keep the tone very light and personable. Then, explain how excited you were to get the invite for the event, and that your dad was looking forward to taking you, and how suprising it was to find out that the event was already booked out even though you tried to register the same day you got the mail. I would include the fact that you found out registration started more than a week before you got the mail, but keep it light and not whiny. Then, to close, I would ask them for some advice on how to make sure you are one of the first to know about the next event, and that if there is any possible way to still get into the current event; or onto a possible waiting list for it? Then, I think you've done everything you can. Who knows, someone in Guest Relations might be able to help you. If and when you get a reply, be sure to note if the letter comes from an actual person with a name, or if it is a general letter from the department. If there is an actual persons name at the bottom, it might not hurt to try and call to actually talk to that person a few days later to say "Thank You" for replying, and then ask again in a funny way if there isn't maybe a possibilty that you can still come Wow, that turned out to be a long response! Hope I could help! By the way, what did you think of Forbidden Journey? I was a little disappointed and still think Spiderman works better. It's definitely fun though!

Thanks Elissa, I'm really excited to be headed somewhere much nice as well. Hopefully the weather holds up. That is a really good way to put it, Elissa. Just try to relax and enjoy it now. The money will be there shortly after you get back and you can take care of all of that then. For now, just get your vacation on and be excited about going totally unexpectadly on the Solstice!

Well, sorry to change to subject, but the next part of my cruise video is (FINALLY) uploaded. Check it out! We opted to just take take a taxi over to Atlantis and walk around to see what we could see, and purely by chance, we ended up sneaking into the waterpark and guests-only area! If you send me a PM here or on youtube, I'll tell you how. It didn't do us a whole lot of good because you need to have an armband to actually have any fun; as in slides or beach, and we didn't feel like pushing our luck and getting escorted off property. I tried to scam a wristband from a towel kiosk, but was un-successful Elissa, if I ever cruise to Nassau again, I will take your original advice and just stay on the boat. I tried my best to make it sound interesting in the video, but the more I watch it, I think... "I should have made a video saying 'Just stay on the boat'!". From the moment we got into the tourist center to the moment we arrived in Atlantis, it was kind of uncomfortable, and same thing for the way back. So many people begging for you to let them braid your hair or sell you a "free necklace" and stuff like that. It was cool to actually see Atlantis and have free access to "The Dig", but after you've done it once, I guess there really is no reason to go back and see it again, unless of course you are going to do the waterpark or a dolphin swim, or what have you.

I would just go with the flow. It's not like you can change the situation anyways, so why bother getting worked up? I'm seriously wondering what they're doing with all the poop, though, if the toilets aren't working!?!?

...and here is my vlog from the first day, which goes more into depth about the transportation problems. It was no Disney's Magical Express, I'll tell you that much! Overall, I truly enjoyed the experience, and the entire vacation package we booked from the "Way More Than A Cruise" websight. It included the cruise, 3 nights and 4 days at Universal in Orlando, and all transfers and transportation. I will definitely cruise again, but would pick a different itinerary with more stops. At first, I thought the ship was going to be old, tired, and out dated, but it was actually really quite nice. I like to compare it to an old limousine who's owner has taken really good care of it. The deco and stuff is kind of out dated, but it still looks great and it was MUCH bigger than it looks in pictures. There are many more videos from the cruise coming soon, including how we ACCIDENTALLY snuck into the Atlantis resort without paying a thing. It truly happened by accident!

Hey Cruise fans! The first two parts of my vlogs and "Very un-Official Guide" videos from our recent cruise on the Monarch of the Seas are up on youtube. Here's one part: Click on the video to go to youtube for HD.

Oh, I got it alright.... but not in the handicapped bathroom stall! OOOOH SNAP!

You saw me? I thought you guys were in Wisconsin?

So, we just got home from our first ever HHN weekend! We were there on Friday the 29th, and used our Stay and Scream tix to wait in the area back by E.T.. I was totally shocked that we got 5 of the houses done before it even got dark! Boom boom boom, one to the next. We had a great time, but it was different than I expected. The fun factor may have been effected by the fact that we had been up since 5:30 am. That morning was the last day of our cruise, so we had to get up, disembark, get to our hotel, check-in, leave our bags cuz our room wasn't ready, then head straight to the park... by midnight, we were both reeeeeally dragging. I think the event is a great idea, but I also noticed the crowds get a little rowdy and definitely non "family atmosphere" like. Of course, I know that it is NOT marketed towards families, but here are a list of things I saw that suprised, or even shocked me: 1) Zombie bartender betches screaming at people to buy their alcohol. Quote "Jeezus Kreiiist, people, it's Halloween Horror Nights! Buy some shots!!! Goddammit, you are all so boring!" 2) Line jumping allllllll over the place in the Mummy line. 3) People having full-on sex in the handicapped stall of the men's bathroom. (I ALMOST made a video, but I decided that would be un-polite ) 4) I swear I saw two guys smoking crack/meth in the line for Simpsons. I sh-t you not! Is that what it's always like?

Well, since no one has answered, I thought I'd post what I already know in order to help anyone else who may be in the same situation. The Partner Program is a way you can make money with Youtube by giving them permission to place ads on your Youtube profile. You can either apply to join the program, or you can get an invitation from them directly connected to certain videos you've uploaded. From what I've read, it is quite difficult to get approved by simply "applying", however, if you do manage to get an invitation with them, you're all set... as long as the video for which you got the invite is TRULY free of copyrighted material. I received 4 invites and in the end only one of the videos made it through the approval process. It's this video If you click on the link to go to Youtube, you will see there are now ads next to the video, and overlayed on the video for the first few seconds. As far as I know, I now get like .04 cents for every click on the sight, and for every click on the ad. It is very possible that I'm wrong, but I think that's how it works. I have no idea how I managed to get the invitation, or why they picked the 4 videos they did. Since I was invited to join the program through specific videos, I can not place ads on ALL my videos because I am not a "full member". Most of my videos have copyrighted music in the background anyways , but I would be more than willing to re-do them if it meant I could enter them in the program. I sent a request to re-enter the other 3 videos that were "invited" after changing the background music, but have not received a response Ya, and that's about all I know and understand about the whole thing. I now have a Google Adsense account, which means I could use it to place ads from Google on a personal websight of mine, but since I don't really have one anymore, that doesn't help me at all. If anyone who should happen upon this thread has anymore advice or insight on the whole ordeal, please contribute!

I'm bumping this up because I figured there must be SOMEONE here on the sight who is also in the youtube Partner Program.... Anyone? Anyone? I have questions that I can't find answers to on the "help" sight

Hi everyone. I need some help. I received an invitation to join Youtube's Partner Program today which was linked to several of my videos. I joined up, filled out all the forms, and.... what do I do now??? It can't be as simple as just sitting around and waiting for the checks to roll in. If anyone else is involved in these programs and/or knows how to make it work usefully, please reply!

In the last issue of the "Kirmes & Park Revue" a german magazine about fairs and theme parks there was an interview with Rudolf Barth the owner of the Olympia Looping in which he says that the OL will continue touring the german fairs and that rumors about it being sold are complete nonsense. Right now it is being set up in Bremen for the Freimarkt (October, 15th to 31st). After that it will be in Hamburg from November, 5th to December, 5th. It's first fair next year will probably be in Hamburg again(around April). By the way, absolutely great update. That is awesome news! Who started that rumor, anyways? I would also, at this moment, just like to mention that I live in Hamburg. HAHAHAHA! And back to topic: I'm so sorry that I didn't get to hang out at Bayern Park, too! That mini-coaster looks insane. From the size and lazout, don't you think a coaster like that would make a great indoor coaster, too? Like a mini-space mountain, except way more thrilling

I found some great deals at Southwest.com. Here is a direct link to the cruise search page http://go.southwest.travelpn.com/ecruise/CruiseSearchForm.do You can enter the destinations you want to visit, the date, the ship, etc., and it will come up with the best deal. Also, if you are interested in combining it with a trip to Universal Orlando, check out this link http://www.waymorethanacruise.com/index.html They have truly amazing prices for a combination cruise/Universal vacation. We booked our next trip through that sight, (leaving in a few weeks!), and the prices are unbelievably low for what you actally get.

Question: Is Rip Ride Rocket still down for "annual maintainence"?

Since when are there 24 STDs??? I can only think of Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes, and AIDS. What are the other 20? I won't be calling the STD number.

Thanks again everyone for letting me hang out and get to know you all, (or see you again). The bachelor party went over very well the next day, however, I spilled my first beer literally INTO my lederhosen and fried my new HTC Desire I've been drying it for a few days now and am scared to turn it back on. Here you can see the aftermath : ( It was a FULL beer. Look how much is left. The rest of it went into my pants, pocket, and phone.

To all of TPR's younger members: I would just like to say that Piers is also quite a bit of fun when he is not drunk, and I'm sure that there are many, many days where he doesn't get drunk and silly like he does in these videos. When on the TPR trips, he; as well as everyone else, is on vacation, which relieves them of many normal responsibilities, are of legal drinking age in the countries where they are, and will not be driving any motor vehicles or operating any heavy machinery; other than video cameras and vending machines that sell condoms and travel puss*es. If you are not of legal drinking age in your country, OR a certified beautician, please do not attempt to achieve the level of drunken adorableness that Piers has reached in these videos. Wait until you are old enough to drink, or have your license in cosmetology, please.

This Trip Report = Good. Morgan = Sad and jealous! I have some advice for when you go back to that spinning wheel of death, (where the object is to stay on as long as possible). Bare skin makes you stick, so someone should wear like, a skirt with no panties on and then sit as close to the middle as possible. They would win for sure. In many different ways. Hope to see you later in the week!

Wait, after reading this more carefully, it looks like they can continue running the coaster as long as they perform the perscribed tests and don't find any cracks. Right?

I started looking thru this thread and got totally into the interesting pics and captions and what have you. By the beginning of page 2, I had forgotten the original reason WHY I had chosen this thread in the first place. It was because I wanted to see some of Harry Potter world. Alas, I am left high and dry, and it's 2:11am here in Deutschland and I better go to bed. And on another random note: I love tequila, too, and enjoy spending money on the good stuff. Your wife IS hot. Why does that goat have his own waterslide(s)? I saw the film "The Human Centipede".

And I'm so bummed because it was the only new credit I was going to get on our short trip to Orlando over Halloween! Maybe A) it will be fixed by then, or B) we'll have to break down and go to Seaworld to get those credits. The Seaworld coasters and HRRR are the only Florida credits I don't have yet.

OMFG! I still find it so hard to believe that things that big can float and don't snap in half in the middle!