dragonskeep

The funnel cake and ice cream stand when you are leaving IOA can get extremely long. They should expand or something.

I voted for Busch Parks. I love both Busch Gardens for the combination of thrills and themeing. Both parks have world class coasters, innovative for their time and some of the best examples of certain ride types. Africa's animal exhibits are diverse and authentic and the caretakers are informative and knowledgeable. Sea world is a very unique experience. The ocean habitat is something we as humans don't have access to, but they bring it to us and help us to care about things many of us otherwise would not. The Shamu shows are, in a word, special. Any park can build good rides, but Sea world's ability to bring different species together so seamlessly is unique and un-surpassed. They make interaction with Killer Whales look easy, I'm pretty sure it isn't, but they do it every day all day. And a pretty decent collection of coasters and rides are developing. The Busch parks are also good stewards of wildlife. Breeding programs, rescue and replenishment of wildlife are all commitments they take seriously. They are even breeding fish for florida's lagoon and estuary systems. As this is a theme park question, I will leave it there.

I have heard the wait for Dueling Dragons would reach 3 hours during Horror nights. I love the ride but you gotta be kidding me, personally I never waited more than 20 minutes. The opening year for Magnum we waited 2 hours though and it was totally worth it. That really was a special event the first year.

Last summer at Cedar Point, Dragster had a 10 minute wait on a summer night in late June. I waited 5 minutes longer for the front and got many rides in a row. Dragster is IMO a great ride, but even better when the wait is that short. 8 or 9 night rides topped off my 3 days at the park beautifully. Ride On.

Well we have some construction equipment, a large crane has arrived on sight. I know it isn't much but at least we will see something happening soon. I guess they will be pouring footers in the near future, of course we already know the layout so not much to learn from footer placement. It would be nice to see Universal launch a site similar to what Cedar Fair did with Maverick and Diamondback. Does anyone know if they have done this before with previous rides. They do a killer job with the HHN site, it sure would help to generate some buzz for the ride. There currently isn't much excitement for what looks like a pretty good ride.

I love the Olympics. Micheal Phelps is pretty amazing. I still think the flying arrow to light the cauldron in Sydney was the coolest thing ever.

I think it will be a great success. People who don't ride coasters all the time will probably find it thrilling even.

I hope that docent mean they're going to take away the Fire vs. Ice theme. I can't be sure, but I would be very surprised if Fire vs. Ice remains. The Dragons re-theme has to improve continuity and that means Tri Wizard Challenge Dragons. They could have all four with 2 train operation, that would be pretty cool. It would also be cool if they built faux rockwork to resemble the venue of the Tri Wizard Dragon Challenge. Creating more near miss elements would actually improve the ride experience. I think I could even accept an extended closure of the ride if they would do this.

Although it will be lame as a ride, it is a nice addition to the Orlando skyline. When the Magic are in the NBA finals, it will make good b-roll for NBC.

The Hulk, I can't remember exactly but it is near the beginning of the area where it starts going deeper and down into the castle (the narrow corridor), and on the left. If you look at all of the lamps you will find it. I was surprised I had never seen it before, good luck finding it. I wouldn't expect Dragons to be down for long. The queue should be closed for an extended period though. I do however expect them to re-paint the track at some point, and the trains as well. Have fun!

This has been one of my favorite trip reports ever.Great job, thanks for posting. The artistic Robb shot and the cajun fries sequence was very funny. I am insanely jealous but glad you guys had a blast. Maybe next year will be my inauguration, I hope so.

There was one on the Carolina Cyclone about 20 years ago. Even when I was a kid, I thought it was the stupidest thing ever. I was raised by human beings though. The fact that parks encourage it by leaving them there is pretty mind numbing.

Thanks a lot for the info.

Hey Big Mike, I really have enjoyed the Road show so far and just wanted to thank you for your efforts. I missed the Reader of the Year contest but what a great idea. Keep having fun on your travels. If you get to Florida I will come out and say hey.

Diamondback looks pretty cool to me, granted I haven't been on any B&M hypers. Is Intamin building any rides in the states anymore? I would think if SROS and Ge Force are constantly 1&2 why wouldn't more parks want them? Are they more expensive or less reliable? B&M is buiding a ton of rides, Getting orders for more than they can produce. I am more a fan of Intamin, but what gives?

^ Don't count out the Kuka robo coaster, it could be very cool as well. I think Manta will be a very cool attraction and a pretty good coaster. Rockit looks like it should be a very good coaster.

I think the name is cool and the logo is just freakin awesome. I haven't been to KI in a long time but this will get me back there, Diamondback and night rides on The Beast summer 09. I hope when we get a Hyper down here in Florida it's anything like this, come on Busch Gardens.

I think we can expect the Tri Wizard Cup to be displayed where Merlin's book is currently, the rest I can't even venture a guess. I have heard rumors of a pre-show at the beginning of the castle, that would bum me out. I too have always loved going through and checking out the details, sticking your head in the holes in the wall you can here how they produce the ambient sound. The other day I found a lamp that is shaped like a dragon that I had never seen before, in hundreds of trips. I think everyone will be happy in the end, but Universal does have some pressure to equal the greatness of what they are destroying. Don't go backwards like with PF. The Harry Potter music is awesome, and would be great on the walk to the Dragons.

The Vault gives a whole new meaning to sticking the landing. Note to self...meet a gymnast.

Spawn of Kraken.

I just looked at the info on the web site for the first time,......uhhh what? It doesn't look much like a snake to me, but what else would go with the western looking theme of the station. Maybe a big mutant lizard thing and they are gonna hunt it down on horseback. Seriously though, those videos are pretty blah, but maybe it will be great when announced. I think, however, a whole lot of bashing of theme/name is a foot in these here hills. One thing is for sure, KI is getting a great new ride.

Have Maurer Sohne built anything this long before, or even remotely similar? I have seen Formule X and Abismo, is there anything else?

Kelly Pavlick makes me happy and he's gonna mess Bernard Hopkins up real bad. Go to Ohio in June.

I love Theme Park Review. Thank you to the Alveys.

Dave Matthews "Ants Marching" If you love music go see Dave.