Jew

California Screamin.

I'd be glad to pay $1 more if that was the reason why they were raising the price of parking but we all know that's not the case, they may just use that as a scapegoat. And besides, when they raise the price of parking it will be by more than $1. Actually, we don't. It *IS* one of the many possibilities that parking was increased to maintain their profit margins while facing the increased cost of wages throughout the park.

^Then I would assume it is the same for Xcel. In which case, it technically is CA law in that the park has to operate the ride 100% by the SOP.

The problem with that logic is that not everyone in the family needs a gold pass. Only the person driving. Perhaps the increase in parking is meant to drive sales of the 4-pack of gold passes? "Well, for just X-amount more your family can get free parking AND Hurricane Harbor if they buy now!" If the profit margin is higher on that extra $12 in parking vs the $40 on food and merch, it's still a winning business proposition for the park. People were pissed at the price of Dodgers parking because they knew that money was going to fund the McCourt's lavish lifestyle and not the product on the field. I doubt anyone would have cared if the Dodgers won a World Series. SFMM delivers the product people expect (coasters), so my guess is people will still show up to pay even more for parking without much of a stink.

^They already get in the way enough...I would hate to have more making bad calls! I really think the problem is that the NFL is making so many fundamental changes to the game with all the new "safety" rules it is hard for the refs to adjust.

In regards to that, they are required by law to show that video since its a safety video that opened with the ride. If any of the TVs aren't displaying the video or the DVD player breaks, then the ride cannot run until it is fixed. Is that a california-only law? I feel like i've been to other parks that sometimes have had their tv screens turned off. No. *BUT*, it would depend upon what is written into the SOP for the ride. So if for some reason Knott's wrote that into the SOP as being a required feature, than yes they will always have to go down for it.

^Texas never had an offense to begin with.

^^Though you are joking, I think everyone here is underestimating the costs. I am sure Six Flags is still making a profit off this increase, but keep in mind there are property taxes, staffing, and maintenance costs involved with the parking lot that are not cheap. I am assuming those costs went up, so parking went up to maintain the same profit margin.

Personally, I would HATE to watch a football game where penalties were reviewable. They're already long enough. It's a very slippery slope---what's the difference between a formation penalty and a hold that allowed running back to score, a PI call that caused the receiver to miss a game winning catch (or the receiver pushes off to catch the ball), and so on... The bigger problem is the NFL keeps adding more and more rules for "safety" that the refs can't even keep up.

^Both those hotels have about 450 rooms each. Roughly 900 on-site rooms isn't that many when you consider the fact that aside from the park itself, Universal is a MAJOR business hub for the film/TV industry. So you have business travelers mixed in with tourists. But anyways... Perhaps he was referring to the Cabana Bay resort in his letter? The press release for the ground breaking of that hotel specifically says:

Now that 5 NFL coaches have been fired, in addition to the Texas job opening....the next cycle of the coaching carousel should be getting underway shortly. Which is going to leave a lot of schools scrambling to keep recruiting classes together. The hottest rumor is Bill O'Brien leaving Penn State for the NFL.

Pizza burger?!

If Magic Mountain is smart, their ticket booth and annual pass processing staff should have this in their sales script...

You have now hit on why it's the best of the Rock'n'Roller Coaster pre-shows. The pre-show in Florida is pretty annoying after you've seen it once, and the crowd in the "studio" can usually recite all the dialogue because they've seen it so many times. Even if you have never seen it, it drags on for too long. Which is why DLP wins! Straightforward and right to the point.

I wouldn't mind one at all so long as there was a payment plan option. I've had a Disney annual pass for the last 10 years now already, so I would almost prefer a "lifetime" option with higher monthly payments where I never had to worry about renewing again.

That's technically true, but the point is they are both entertainment venues competing for the same disposable income. To someone, a trip to SFMM could also qualify as a "one time/rare" event. But if you would like another comparison, how about hotels around Disney, in the Gaslamp District of San Diego, or Downtown L.A? Those are just three examples I can think of where I have stayed at hotels and they have charged $15+ for parking in addition to the room rate. Besides, with all the discounts SFMM offers (I can get tickets from my employer for $35, the countless coke can discounts, the cheap price of a pass, etc, etc)…you're still getting a great value (so long as all you want is coasters) even after being "gouged" for parking.

The Browns continue their streak of being…the Browns by firing their coach just one year after hiring him.

Aside from the ones Elissa mentioned, when I worked at KBF for Haunt in 2004---the park became a lake because of of heavy rain (by So Cal standards at least). They ended up canceling Haunt the next day because the park was still flooded.

^Would be a very high risk, high reward hire. The NCAA changed their rules now so the head coach is responsible for anything that goes on in the program unless "he shows he fostered a culture of compliance."

I don't really think parking prices are a huge deal...I mean, have you not ever been to a sporting event? I saw a private lot across the street from the Coliseum charging $80 for the USC/UCLA game. That same lot also charged $100 for Ohio State vs. USC a few years back. It's going to be $75 to park at the Super Bowl in NYC, and people will not even be allowed to walk or just drop off (only options are pay parking, take train, or pay $50 for the official shuttle).

The first batch of stores/restaurants opened today as well: Purple Zebra Haute Doggery Chayo Cocina KOTO Starbucks I have no idea what any of those things are…but they are open.

Yeah, I get that, but there should be more to the attractiveness of a park than just a new ride that can be seen & done rather quickly. I think SFMM has trained its guests to not care about anything besides coasters more than anything. Eventually people learn they need to go elsewhere for something that isn't a giant roller coaster. Adding a new coaster does nothing to bring those people back. Those people are just replaced with the next generation of "thrill seekers." There's a never ending supply of teenagers whose parents will gladly pay $80 (or whatever the price of a pass is) to use SFMM as a babysitter. Add in the 20-30 year olds who live in the L.A. area and can't get thrills elsewhere close by…and you have a business model that works. For now at least.

I get the feeling whomever is behind it is having a hard time getting the financing!

I would say that most of SFMM's guests don't care about the quality and just go for the coasters. The poor quality will keep me from ever visiting on a regular basis, but even I will go back for a new credit that's worth my time. YOLOCoaster got me back.

Tokyo Disney expansion? YES PLEASE!