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Seems like all CCI's have gotten real rough with age. Either they need a ton of upkeep or they get really bad. Operating almost year round and being such a large ride would make that almost impossible. Sadly.

RFID/NFC technology is great. Really simplifies everything. It's definitely the future of all hotels/restaurants/payment/etc. Great move by Disney being at the forefront of the movement in the theme park industry!

That's why I'd rather see K-state. That would be a real coaching chess match, and Colin Klien is a great player. Oregon has already shown how they do in big games. As much as I love seeing them falter, I'd rather watch a good football game for the national title now that USC is out of the picture.

^Then you should come to USH more!

I honestly don't even care about riding kiddie coasters for the count...I think it's more about just having fun. What better way to have fun than on a coaster with your friends that you obviously don't belong on?

^^I wouldn't be so sure. None of the teams USC faces have the athletes/QB play that Oregon did. Oregon made USC pay big for every mistake/missed tackle because they're so good (I lost count of how many times 1-2 yard games/loses became 5-10 yard games because no one could wrap up). USC's offense will keep them around in any game. So as I said before...they're good enough to win out (including winning the pac-12 title game), or bad enough to keep beating themselves and lose the rest as well.

If we were just comparing Disneyland straight up to Magic Kingdom, I would agree that Disneyland wins. But WDW just has so many options throughout the resort, it is impossible to say DLR comes anywhere close to WDW for overall food quality and selection.

Interesting that they are fabricating the ride on their own. Some manufacturer must be on board for trains and electrical?

^I hope USC can spoil that scenario too! It's hard for me to say Oregon's offense is over rated when they just torched USC for 61 points, but as I said, it is actually pretty simple to beat. Make tackles in open space on first contact and get a good push up front and they're done. USC did neither, and the result was 61 points. I suspect Alabama will have a bit more success with those two key things!

^^I used to be against the idea, as I preferred the true fan experience. But then I actually went to one and was absolutely spoiled. Just the convienence alone of not having to wait in lines to buy food is worth it. But then you add in the fact it is usually gourmet food AND you can get in-seat waiter service and it is even better. Some stadiums (such at PETCO Park) even include the booze!

^Aside from the fact I'm bias and don't want to see Oregon in the title game (if USC beats Arizona State and UCLA they'll get a re-match with Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, which of course I'd like for USC to win)...I don't think Oregon stands a chance against Alabama. I'd like to see it be K-state, since they seem to be a more complete team. Beating Oregon (or all those spread offenses for that matter) is about controlling the middle, something Alabama will do a lot better than USC did. Also, with the way USC shredded Oregon, I think Alabama would put up a ton of points.

^That certainly adds more fuel to the fire as to why the fair board wouldn't want to deal with Ed Hart. If he was going broke operating the park a first time, what is going to make this time around any different?

Agreed. Dan and I actually had a balcony right in the middle of the ship that poked out so you could see both ways on Mariner of the Seas (sister to Navigator). It was awesome to have the extra space to relax and enjoy the views.

^Could be worse: could have been the USC game. I think I was watching an NCAA 13 video game on easy with penalties turned off. Holy crap that was bad defense on both sides. I can't even complain about the refs when the USC defense was so bad I could have probably ran for a TD against them. ...And thanks to UCLA killing Arizona, USC can still win the PAC-12 south so we get to watch that video game all over again!

Sounds like it is basically a "pool" cast---you show up and they put you where ever they need someone to fill in that night.

It's alive! This thread is making a return...only two months after I actually visited the venues! Hopefully I'll be sober enough at one of the remaining games to document a USC game @ the Coliseum, finally go back to the freshly re-modeled Pauley Pavilion, and maybe even the northern california arenas this season. But anyways... USC played a game @ MetLife field against Syracuse, so naturally I had an excuse to visit NYC for the first time. Dan and I flew into LaGuardia, which just happens to be a short cab ride away from CitiField...So far this is the least favorite of the newer stadiums I've been to. It's not horrible by any means, but it just really lacks the charm of other stadiums. It feels like they just threw in every modern amenity for revenue purposes and didn't really do anything besides the rotunda entrance to distinguish itself from any of the other stadiums out there. Welcome to CitiField. Here is the famous rotunda modeled after Ebbets Field (go Dodgers!) Here's the inside of said rotunda. As I said, probably the most unique part of the stadium. Random concourse photo. See? Nothing exciting! Obligatory stadium feature #1: kids play area Obligatory stadium feature #2: fancy club area (this is the Delta 360 skyclub) Obligatory stadium feature #3: fancy full service restaurant in the club area Finally something not found everywhere else: old school baseball card posters above the snack stands of famous mets. Back to your regularly scheduled obligatory features: Dan and I sat in the champions club section, an all you can eat club area. Here's the bar area. ...And here's the buffet for all you ACEr's out there. It was pretty good. Fresh cut turkey sandwiches, some fresh sides, bacon wrapped hot dogs, unlimited soda, and ice cream for dessert. ...And the view from our face value $150 tickets. View from the outfield. OK, it's not all bad. This neon sign was cool. And Shake Shake makes any stadium better. I leave you with the world famous backside of the scoreboard!

I think he's delusional if he thinks Kentucky Kingdom is anything more than a regional park in todays climate. Holiday World and Beech Bend are much improved since the days of Chang. I think he'd be better off building smaller rides and rebuilding a strong local visitor base before dreaming bigger... But again, I don't think this is going to actually happen to begin with. Not after the casino thing came up.

I missed this the first time, but to answer that question: absolutely not. I know of at least 2 great ride technicians who got their start at the SFMM auto shop and worked their way up into their current rules. Rides function in much the same way as cars, with pumps, gears, belts, electrical control systems, and so on.

Even if he can't write his way out of a paper bag, poo-poo like this makes Lucas awesome. This is my favorite George Lucas Story: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/16/real_estate/george-lucas-housing/index.htm

It's also not entirely true that a clone like a boomerang or SLC wouldn't work. The closest large looping coasters are 113 miles away at Kings Island.

BUT....BUT....THE CREDITS!!

^^That's a limb that surely broke when you stepped out on it. Not even worth discussing any further.

...Or this is already part of a bigger plan to make sure the new coaster fits in with the area.

Is the quality of Portofino so much higher than the normal dining room that is justifies the upcharge cost?

And for all we know, these new additions might be part of that bigger plan. The area definitely looks like it will be more open now.