arrowfanman

Well, the matterhorn actually has a full blown retractable bumper now...lol...the first time I saw it, I was like "WTF!", and then "Woah! Kick ass!"

Well, I can't speak for Intamin in other cases, but how often does B&M take a chance? This ride has 5 trains, 11 blocks, a double loading station, and a launch all together. Thats pretty complex, all to fit the customers requests.

Silver Bullet only has 2 trains. But your right...earlier in the day, the line was moving much faster...I just got it at a crappy time.

And it wasn't in the station...my bad too: http://www.nbc4.tv/slideshow/news/4789416/detail.html?qs=;s=10;p=news;dm=ss;w=400

That article that Stitch posted says that it occoured when one train hit another train that was loading. If that was true the result would be an over-abrupt stop in the train. What I dont get is that picture shows a train in the first brake run. Maybe it estopped? Lol...probably. All the stations are mentioning "two trains collided", and then mentioning every accident at the resort since 1998.

Ok…I just got back from a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disney’s California Adventure, and I have a trip report for you guys. So lets start with the Knott’s Berry Farm half (I'll do DCA next post)... Knott’s Berry Farm This was the fourth time in my life that I had been to Knott’s. I don’t normally get to go. Its one of the few parks that I can still feel that childish feeling of anticipation as I near it, searching for the Knott’s skyline, wondering how much longer it will take. We wanted to turn this two-park trip into a vacation feeling trip, so even though I live 56 miles from Knott’s, we booked a room at the Knott’s resort hotel. Once we parked at the hotel, we walked right to the park. As soon as I saw Silver Bullet’s cobra roll over the top of the park entrance, a HUGE smile came to my face. Silver Bullet would be my 50th coaster. I KNOW, I KNOW! Its not much at all! But I rarely get a chance to leave So Cal, so what you see is what I got! We got right into the park, and headed to Silver Bullet. Silver Bullet The line was in the switchback under the transfer track, and in all, only took about 35 minutes….that included waiting for the front too. The ride was a load of fun! It offered awesome views. Its true what they say about it having no force though. I mean, it has forces, but no “wow” feeling forces. Even when I was in line, I even said “boy…that looks kind of slow.” But I still thought it was fun. In the end, I was just glad to have ridden it. After Silver Bullet, it was off to Xcelerator. I love Xcelerator. It is one of my all time favorites! Xcelerator We got in line for Xcelerator. The line wasn’t even 1/2 way down the ramp up to the station. My sister and I got in line for the front…I take that back. We got in line for the FRONT CAR. In line for the front CAR. I wish I had read the sign more carefully. The line probably took 35-40 minutes, and in the end, we got row 2. This was a huge disappointment for me. We waited all that time for row two, because Xcelerator loads by car, not by row. Me in row...2. It’s a stupid system. It’s a disappointment, because the back is better on Xcelerator, and I could have gotten that in a 15 minute wait. Im the one with my hands up, in...row 2. Me squinting after that amazing ride. I love it! (sorry for the very noticible lack of pics/unnecessary pics. I only have what my dad took...lol) After Xcelerator, I started getting hungry, but I decided to hold it off for a ride on Supreme Scream. Supreme Scream I personally love this ride. I always get off thinking “Hell yea! Lets do it again!” But I cant deny that I get awfully nervous as we slowly rise up. I keep thinking to myself “aren’t we at the top yet?” My sister was even more scared. But as soon as we finally drop, I am shouting “yea!!!” for the rest of the ride. Lunch For lunch, I had a Beef Colorado from one of the Mexican places. It didn’t cost much, and tasted very good for So Cal theme park food! Lol. And it was real beef! When I ordered a chicken burrito at SFMM, it tasted like Chicken noodle soup in a tortilla…lol. Jaguar The last time I was at Knott’s with my family, Jaguar was the new ride. Lol. We rode it after lunch. We didn’t want to do anything too big, on the account that we just ate, so it was perfect. Its nice and mellow as usual. I prefer Goldrusher though! Hell yea! When we got off of Jaguar, I heard some lady shout to her friend, “guess who I just saw?!?…Snoop Dog!” Being at Knott’s, I assumed that she meant Snoopy the dog, as Knott’s is home to the Peanuts characters. But when I met up with my parents, they said “we just saw “Snoop Doggy Dog”. So Snoop Dog was there when we were. We headed to the Timber Mountain Log Ride, as it was getting hot out. When we were there, we saw Snoop Dog with some friends, and a few children. He just got of the ride, so we got a few pictures. The other Snoopy. We didn’t ride the log ride yet, as the line was too long, so we headed to the Calico Mine Ride. Calico Mine Ride This ride was a nice break in the day. It was air conditioned and had the Pirates of the Caribbean smell of stagnant water. So I was relaxed…lol. However, I don’t think it was very smart to put a small stream directly next to the queue, as I was unwillingly made part of a water fight. Pre-water fight. After the Calico Mine Ride, it was time for Ghostrider. I had never been on it. The two times I was there, the line was either too long, or it was my friends birthday, and he didn’t like the ride, so I didn’t complain on his birthday. He complained that it was too bumpy. Ghostrider was an…..interesting ride. Ghostrider I have never ever thought on a ride “This could quite possibly be the best ride I have ever been on” and “This could quite possibly be the worst ride I have ever been on” at the near same time. That is, until I rode Ghostrider. We waited about 40 minutes for the back, just like a friend of mine had suggested. I assumed it was for airtime and ejector hills. Boy he was right! We started accelerating before our car had even crested at the lift, and were flung over the drop. An AMAZING feeling. We experienced a lot of bumping at the bottom though. It seemed that, whenever we were on top of a hill, I was in heaven, and whenever we were in-between hills, I was in hell. That ride, in combination with me lugging a huge backpack around a lot of the day, contributed to hurting my back. I still feel it now, two days later. The ride also had too many laterals. I would definitely ride it again…If someone said “lets go ride it”. But I wouldn’t suggest it…lol. We then headed on. We rode Silver Bullet again. The line was in the station, and they had probably 8 ride ops in the station….yet it took a long time, especially for two train operation. I think this crew might pass up Dejavu’s crew for being the “crappiest crew of the week!” Montezuma’s Revenge After Silver Bullet, we went to Montezuma’s Revenge. This ride had a line in the station, and had 2 ride ops. One was in the booth, and one was single-handedly checking restraints. And yet, we got on WAY faster than on Silver Bullet. So I applaud that crew! Boomerang At the end of the day, we saw Boomerang with a short line so we rode it. With the exception of two not so painful but expected bumps, the ride was an excellent one. Yes, I dare say that. We did a couple of other rides after and in-between what I have mentioned. We also did a TON of re-rides. Yet at the end of the day, I felt a sense of disappointment. Most all of the ride ops were lazy and slow, with the exception of a few who looked like they wanted to kill me. I had a few rude ride ops, and the only kind one was this really really nice lady who chatted with us at Xcelerator. Silver Bullet and Ghostrider didn’t live up to my hopes, my sister didn’t want to do some of the flats, and it was more crowded than I was used too. Oh well…there’s one thing that always cheers me up!: Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant Sure, we had to wait 40 minutes, but for 13 bucks, I got: -A ton of biscuits -1 salad -1 soup -3 pieces of tasty fried chicken (breast, thigh, leg) -Good mashed potatoes -Corn and to wash it all down (included in the 13 bucks) -An AWESOME piece of Boysenberry Pie with Vanilla Ice-cream on the top (Ice cream was free...even though I had to request it). We left the restaurant feeling painfully full! I love that place. It’s a great deal, and has pretty good food too. So that made the day better…lol. California Adventure report coming up soon, so dont go away!

Whenever life gets you down Mrs. Brown, And things seem hard or tough, And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft, And you feel like you've had quite enoughhhhhhhhh! Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving, And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour, That's orbiting at nineteen miles a second, so it's reckoned, A sun that is the source of all our power. The sun and you and me and all the stars that we can see Are moving at a million miles a day In an outer spiral arm, at forty thousand miles an hour, Of the galaxy we call the 'Milky Way'. Our galaxy itself contains a hundred billion stars. It's a hundred thousand light years side to side. It bulges in the middle, sixteen thousand light years thick, But out by us, it's just three thousand light years wide. We're thirty thousand light years from galactic central point. We go 'round every two hundred million years, And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions In this amazing and expanding universe. The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding In all of the directions it can whizz As fast as it can go, at the speed of light, you know, Twelve million miles a minute, and that's the fastest speed there is. So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure, How amazingly unlikely is your birth, And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, 'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth. Lol...I love that song. Yes, I think that there is some form of life out in the universe. I couldn't guess as to what though.

There are markers under the queue and exit, but none that I could find around the ride. In my honest opinion, and this is speculation, and I always bag on people for speculating, and now im doing it myself, is that if the rumor from screamscape is true, of there being an immelman on the ride, I think it will go there, thus meaning it turns around and unfortunately never enters the Rapids area.

WOW...a lot has really happened in 3 days. Thanks a ton for the pics! That walk from the front of the park, to ninja is HELL. I hope that not only is the Orient Express saved, but I hope that the path leading to rapids is re-routed. BTW...When I made my 7/21 update, you can see green arrows pointing forward, where the path was now ripped out. So I dont think they will rip any more out for now...just a guess though.

They aren't good for anyone! Im 5' 8", 160 lbs, and when I last rode dejavu, we got stuck facing down, and the only thing holding me in really was that orange seatbelt! Well, as long as you show up when the park opens, you are bound to finish all the rides in the back quickly, but what you guys did was TOO quickly...lol.

They would never put that much effort into anything, but a new coaster.

I probably will be able to go to one or two of the meets, it is a wee bit early to tell. I'll be one of the last people to RSVP...lol. But it would be nice to meet all of you . . . as thats what you do at a meet.

Too late, it already had one.... ...what, you didn't see the two gift shops on and in the left side of the castle?

Im kinda mad at the company. Parents and politicians have been trying to ban the game for the longest time, and this little thing is what does it. Its kinda like Clinton.

Yes it is. To tell you the truth, the park has been shaping up more than people are willing to admit. What they need to do, most importantly, is hire way more supervisors, and hire older people. You dont know how many yellow and green taged employees (15-18 year olds, I believe) that are talking on their cell phones, text messaging, leaning against the wall bored, sitting, flirting behind the ride op control panel, and my favorite, the girl on Tidal Wave that couldn't get the restraint opener to work, so she shouted "freakin-A!" Freakin A! LOl...that kills me. Oh yea...and git rid of a few not so amusing smells, that lurk around the park...lol.

Out of curiosity, whats wrong with Johnny Rockets? I ate there once, and dont remember it being too bad. I just remember it had outrageous prices, I believe.

Ok...I have what I would consider, Breaking News and an Update! Yay! Aparently overnight, the Orient Express was shut down. It is now decorated with "please excuse our mess: attraction closed" signs. Now, I dont know if this is just convienently scheduled maintence, a temporary preporation phase, or if it is closed for good....I just know theres a sign there. Also overnight, the pathway, between Roarin' Rapids and Ninja was closed off. It also has "please exuse our mess signs". The handrails on that pathway are being taken down, and there is now green paint markers. The Samauri Summit sign has also been taken down. Work in the Gardens has progressed, and they are also tearing out the Garden's handrails. So without further adue, my update...sorry for the low quality. My dad is in Thailand on a buisness trip, and took the digital camera, so I had to use my camcorder.

We have Carls Jr's on the West coast. I have never seen a Hardees here. We brought home a bottle of Hellman's mayonaise as a souvineer once on vacation, because our is called Best Foods...lol.

Holy crap...I new you guys were close, but judging by those pics, your too close. I was just over there today (if where Im thinking that is, is correct)...there was an accident, not far from where that second pic was taken. Ok...I think I should leave TPR, because this is freaking me out.

Mark Twain. . . .despite never ever being on it, its description is truely how I would like to describe myself.

You know...I was never one to understand why a little castle was a big deal, but I just have to participate anyways.

I have to agree with you. You are paying 10 bucks to let your car do nothing! Theres nothing worse than paying 9 bucks at SFMM on a busy summer day, only to stash your car in the unpaved overflow lot, and walk to the first tramspot, and wait, or walk to the park.

At least this applies for me: I never used to watch coaster videos. I thought they were stupid. Whats the point of any coaster video? Because its cool? Its essentially a fake music video with a roller coaster. Then I got RCT and NL. I wanted to do recreations, so I began using the videos as a reference. As a matter of fact, I began watching the videos with a dislike of artistic music videos, as I just wanted to know how the vehicle flowed, and the approximate heights of the elements. A POV was an excellent way of showing how the track was shaped, and how the vehicle manuvered. I began liking coaster videos as coaster videos around december of last year, when I got my first camcorder. I got offered a spot on a website producing coaster videos for the site owner. I to this day, edit my coaster videos, so as they will be (hopefully) entertaining, yet a reference to the ride at the same time. I rarely download videos without POV, and I am dissapointed when I download a video, only to find there is no POV. It is the staple of the videos. Show any average person a roller coaster music video without a POV, and they will think your weird, or not get it. Show the same person a POV, without music...just a POV, and they will find it cool. From an editing standpoint, its simply more footage, that helps eliminate the feeling of repeat-shots, as its an entirely unique perspective. It elevates the quality and composition of the whole video. That is my personal reason to liking POVs. And my apoligies to Robb and the site for my previous post.

Yes...Disneyland space is filling up. I think that we will really be seeing very little E-tickets at Disneyland for the next 25 years, partially due to DCA. Also...There are so many space consuming rides there that are considered "classics" that I cant see them tearing stuff down.

Yes, but I only mentioned the highlights of the day...lol.