Big Mike

I honestly can say that any park visit is much better if you have Valuable Big Mike Readers attending with you! The fun and friendships make the park visit at least 10 times better for me. I could go to one of the best parks by myself and not have as much fun as going to a junky park with friends. I would say the best park visit and park event would be CoasterMania at Cedar Point, being it is already my favorite park and I met a LOT of friends there. Cedar Point did a great job! I have a feeling WCB though will top that this year! That said, there is NO COMPARISON to a 2 week TPR trip with 50 friends!! Thats when your friends become more like your family. It's a great feeling! Kind of like Jimmy and Daron, who just posted really nice words about me. These are two SOLID friends from TPR trips. Thanks for the kind words guys!! I have been on 4 trips with Robb so far, plus other various places, and the way he just stood up for me and my thread made me proud! I consider Robb my "brother" and would go to bat for him at all times, and thats what it is all about to me. People make the best experiences at the parks, so find me the most TPR friends to hang out with and I will tell you that is the answer. Peace, Big Mike

Here is the final picture!! Scroll down to build the suspense!!! Unknown to most Big Mike Road Show Valuable Readers, there was a park visit after stop #105 Six Flags New England! The gang went to visit Lake Compounce, but since Big Mke already did a report on this park, it was not announced! We will get back to this in a minute. The Final answer to the Find the Ducky Game was 4!!!! There was no 5th hidden ducky!!! Did I get you guys into thinking you lost?? lol BOTH players got ALL the duckies!!! After regulation time, we have a tie score!!! You know what that means, right???? OVERTIME!!! Now that above picture comes into play! First, that picture is to mark the end of the 2008 coaster season!! The last ride of the year was at Lake Compounce on Boulder Dash with the lovely Christiana Let it go down in the record books. Now, concerning OVERTIME!!! Did Big Mike have an extra ducky game at Lake Compounce just in case??? There will be a final overtime find the ducky game as soon as Traincrossin and Team Thriller can both be online together with Big Mike at the same time! We will meet in the chat room, and when all 3 of us are there, I will post the final game. First person with the correct answer wins the Championship!!! Organize it guys and let me know!! Sudden Death Overtime, what a way to end the season!!! Peace, Big Mike

THE FIND THE DUCKY FINAL ROUND ANSWERS Hello Friends!!! The moment everybody has been waiting for, to find out who is crowned Big Mike Reader of the Year Find the Ducky Champion!!! Traincrossin vs. Team Thriller I will let the pictures tell the story: Peace, Big Mike There WAS a ducky trying to play the ladder game! BOTH players got this correct! Which player found the fifth hidden ducky??? The next post will explain it all! Peace, Big Mike There WAS a ducky in the greenery by this sign! BOTH players got this correct! There WAS a ducky in the sharks mouth! BOTH players got this correct! There WAS a ducky on the lamp by the sign. BOTH players got this one correct!

Big Mike's Mission Statement says Don't Leave any Big Mike Readers Behind, and a goal is to answer everyones questions! I hope everyone understands and does not get upset with me for answering Mr. Sky Whirls questions. He is a TPR member after all, and a possible friend down the road maybe. Some of his questions are actually pretty good ways to point out behind the scenes stories of The Big Mike Road Show that get buried without seeing the light of day in the thread. Also, more than half of Mr. Sky Whirls all time posts have been in one way or another, directed at Big Mike and his most active topic is The Big Mike Road Show. So, even though he will not come right out and show it, he is a Valuable Big Mike Reader and I feel that maybe I can bring him over to the positive side one day and find a Big Mike Banner in his profile! Mr Sky Whirl Interview #2 * Give the people what they want - start a new thread. How great would it be for multiple Mammoth Miguel threads to be battling eachother? Since you're so amazing, why not create a battle against your only real competition = yourself? I do have competition though. The Six Flags Magic Mountain thread is years ahead of me, and The Sea World Manta thread is flying up my rear view mirror! The Manta thread is a 2008 thread, and I could lose the "#1 Thread of 2008" title. Thus splitting my thread would not be a good idea. Also, say a Valuable Big Mike Reader was going on vacation and wanted to see a couple of parks Big Mike visited in 2008 to have an idea what to expect on thier vacation. Under your plan, The Big Mike Road Show 2008 thread would die off and get buried pages deep in the index, making it a lot of work for the reader to go find it. Under my plan, The Big Mike Road Show total thread has NEVER been off the front page, making it quick and easy to look up anything. * Take a year off, say in 2010, and donate the funds that would have gone towards another epic coaster season to a worthy cause. That would be awesome. That would be awesome, but then why take a year of fun and possible friendship making and toss it aside? Big Mike still donates to United Way, Broadway Cares, local Childrens Organizations, ect. I feel it is an even split and fair to everyone. I would not feel good about stopping my contributions to charity all together and going on twice as many trips, thus I would not feel good about stopping all the coaster trips and then doubling the charity distributions. It is a fine mix now. Plus, I increased my friends quite a bit in 2008, and hopefully again in 2009. Maybe 2010 would be a trip to Texas and a new friendship with Mr. Sky Whirl, and I would hate to miss out on that! * Refrain from contests and other lame attempts to up your view count. Do it naturally, resist the urge to use the steroids of thread views and go natural brother. That is like asking a tv station to just run tv shows and not any commercials. The pages views is what measures the success of your thread! To live up to my nickname that seems to have been bestowed on me here, The Master of Self Promotion, I need to come up with different ideas now and then. It is also what seperates every ordinary thread with the same old coaster pictures from my thread. Have you played Find the Ducky Mr Sky Whirl? I would bet that you searched for that little ducky at least once or said I found him It is just a little extra fun. Wait till you see the new prizes for 2009! Who wouldn't want free prizes for having a little fun?? I think The Valuable Big Mike Readers would miss the contests, in my opinion. * Let your minions, which are many, blow your own pipe. Too often I click into your thread, which I know you enjoy thinking about, and see you posting the latest power rankings. Trust me, if you went a few weeks without tooting your own horn - one of your peeps would do it for you. And your doucheyness factor would go down quite a bit. Actually, I do not post the standing all too often. When there is a big event or milestone, sure I brag a little. 250 pages so far, and I think I put about 15 standings up so far. Thats not a bad average. My Valuable Big Mike Readers deserve the right to just come into the thread and enjoy the content, there is no need for them to do any extra work looking up the statistics, I can do that for them. I take great pride in my thread and my accomplishments so far in the standings, so please don't take that as a sign of doucheyness. Also, I admit, I do enjoy anytime anyone including yourself clicks into my thread! * Are you saying that if the park says no, you will not take a picture? That is, is every picture you've ever taken on a ride "legit"? Or do you simply not ask at some parks knowing that the answer will be "no" and go stealth? I admit, every ride picture is not legit. Every ride picture for the last 3/4 of the thread is legit. I know it may be very hard to believe, but this is the first year I have ever done a trip report and I never even took coaster pictures before this year either. Earlier in the year, I made a Valuable Big Mike Reader uncomfortable while taking a picture of us together on a lift hill. Said person did not object to a picture of us together, but it was the fact that it was taken on a coaster without permission. I was asked not to post that picture, which I did not. I learned from that point on to ask every time so that I don't break any rules and none of my friends are uncomfortable. * I assume you are sticking with horribly annoying yellow/gold color for this year's shirt? Why? Wait, I just answered that question. I am sticking with the same color, and it is officially gold. The reason is 3 fold and I will tell you the blatent honest truth why I picked the color: 1. The color stands out in group photos and all TPR videos and photos. It is easy to spot myself in updates. 2. I think I look the best with this color shirt when I have a nice dark tan. 3. I have kind of made a trade mark shirt for myself now. Big Mike is known for his gold shirt. A quick true story.... I was at Six Flags Magic Mountain and was spotted by a TPR reader on the opposite side of the platform. I was leaving and he called his friend cell phone on the exit ramp on speaker. I was walking by at the same exact time he was saying "Big Mike is here!!" His friend asked where and he said look for the gold shirt! Thats how he described me, so that is my "look". Plus it is better to wear in the sun than a darker shirt. * What do your fellow UPS workers think of your hobby? I am actually a big hit at UPS and have been highlighted in the UPS magazine. Very often, people will come up at work and ask about the next coaster trip or ask advice of a park they want to visit or vacation at. So overall it is a very positive response. I will just throw this out here, my bosses were huge fans of the bikini pictures and actually sat down in a meeting one day and told me their favorite girls in the Top 25 Bikini Bonanza. * What would you think the majority of folks the frequent this fine site would think - that you're awesome, and posting the blow by blow exploits of one Massive Mikey is super cool and entertaining OR that you're incredibly annoying? Obviously you have your fans, but if people were asked to answer honestly ... which side do you think the majority would fall? I would estimate in my own opinion that the TPR community is probably divided into quarters. Here are the quarters: The 1st quarter is people that already know me and know that I am not really like the guy I portray in this thread. They probably check in once in a while to see where I have been and enjoy the comic genius. The 2nd quarter are people that I have not met but are totally entertained by all the hard work I do in picture taking and story telling, and admire my dedication to my thread and my travels. The 3rd quarter are people on the fence, or are afraid to start viewing it now that they are 250 pages behind. It is like a tv show or a movie on its 4th movie, no one wants to jump into something not knowing what has happened so far. The last quarter are people that think Big Mike is too cocky, too arrogant, too annoying, too full of himself ect ect. Also falling under this catagory would be people jealous of my popularity or have a strong distaste for my sense of humor. These people are actually displeased with the charactor Big Mike, and probably don't know the real Mike Betzler as a person. This concludes tonights interview! Thanks to our special guest Big Mike and our interviewer Mr. Sky Whirl. Feel free to leave any comments or further questions or to tell Big Mike which quarter everyone falls under! Peace, Big Mike PS - Find the Ducky Championship Answer coming up a little later tonight, had to reschedule to make room for this important interview! PSS - Still waiting for The Big Mike Banner Mr. Sky Whirl

^ I am hoping that the shirt guy gets the shirts done. If he does, the new 2009 shirt will debut at WCB! I LOVE Kidtums!!! ^^ I will add The Coaster Palooza Tour to the schedule, and Six Flags Great Adventure on Aug 15th is locked in! I have off from Aug 14-16! The Big Mike Hotel will be glad to accomidate you once again! ^^^ When I now for sure, I will let you know! ^^^^ I will work on The Final Find the Ducky Post tonight for sure! ^^^^^ Hope so! ^^^^^^ No problem with the broken promises maybe PPP again? Did you see I finally used your idea for the banner? I don't inflate my count lol ^^^^^^^ I would love to see Kayla again, and you too Ken! King's Island seems to be a hot spot! I will add 4 credits at Kings Island. ^^^^^^^^ I have not even looked at SFGA opening day yet? If I am home from Cali, I will be there! ^^^^^^^^^ I gave it some thought, but I really want to move up the rankings! Splitting the threads would end my title hopes I will hopefully see you Memorial day weekend. ^^^^^^^^^^ I just looked what was in the area, I actually did not do ANY research on John Ivers yet. It is safe to say that I will NEVER make the 200 pound weight limit lol. I suppose The Big Mike Charm won't work on this guy either? This may have to be a scratch, but would be cool to see if this is the guy with the 2 coasters in his yard. Thats as far back as the review will let me go! *Added to Big Mike Mission Statement 2009 - Do better at answering posts! Peace, Big Mike

Yes!!! I just found out some great news! The Big Mike Road Show 2009 will travel cross country to kick off the coaster season at West Coast Bash!!! Even better, Big Mike is bringing 35 prizes to give away to some lucky West Coast Bashers Details soon!!! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Fellow Friends!!!! Thanks for being patient! Big Mike World Headquarters has come through with thier promise and delivered the top secret Big Mike Road Show 2009 World Tour Schedule! First though, lets read through the Big Mike Road Show 2009 Mission Statement: BIG MIKE ROAD SHOW 2009 OBJECTIVES, NEW IDEAS, AND GOALS: * The Big Mike Road Show will expand the popular Big Mike vs. Big Mike Challenge, where TPR Big Mike shows up to establishments with the name Big Mike and has a showdown to see who is the bigger Big Mike. This was a hit last year and we are looking to expand to a few more challenges this year. TPR Big Mike is currently 1-0! * The Big Mike Road Show will put a major initiative into effect to help out The TPR Park Index as much as possible. Of course Big Mike will take pictures with his big fat head in them still, but he will also take any kind of pictures without his smug face in it for the index also. Big Mike will contact the Over Lord and figure out exactly what kind of pictures are needed. * The Big Mike Road Show will try to bring The Valuable Big Mike Readers an actual park map that they can read in 2009. Big Mike plans to bring a park map home, scan it, and display it instead of the usual picture that you cant see anything from. * The Find the Ducky game has been renewed for another season. The rules will change a bit with it being a running total game throughout the year instead of an elimination game. * The MIKEstery Treasure Hunt Game which had a test run in 2008 at The Mall of America has been picked up this season by overwhelming demand. The game consists of a Big Mike Logo Card hidden somewhere in each park Big Mike visits. When each trip report posts, there will be a picture of where it is hidden and the TPR members will race to recover the treasure. Finally, * The Big Mike Reader of the Year Award will be done different this year. Details will be revealed soon, but the Valuable Big Mike Readers will have to complete 4 quests in order to win the Grand Prize, which will also be revealed soon. The Grand Prize will be the largest prize ever given away on The Big Mike Road Show! The goals for The Big Mike Road Show 2009 have been changed, some higher and some lower. * Last year Big Mike's goal was to visit 100 parks, this year's goal is 80. The Big Mike Road Show does not just want to throw parks up that he has already reviewed just to increase the count. Big Mike wants Quality instead of Quantity. Unless there is a new coaster at the park, Big Mike will not post a duplicate trip report, thus lowering the goal to 80 since there will be less parks to visit. The idea is to go 100, 80, 60, 40, 20 for a total of 300 parks in a 5 year span. * The Big Mike Road Show would like to increase the culture credits in 2009. Visiting really cool places mixed in with amusement parks is on the agenda in 2009. * The MOST IMPORTANT GOAL of The Big Mike Road Show 2009 has switched from more parks and new credits in 2008 to meeting more new friends and hanging out with more old friends in 2009! The ultimate goal is to see more friends pictures in the 2009 reports than we saw in the 2008 reports. Now, it is with great pleasure that Big Mike Productions proudly presents: THE BIG MIKE ROAD SHOW 2009 SCHEDULE The Tours: The Coasters, Kickoff, Kidtums, and Casinos Tour March 21 - March 27. The Coasters, Craig, and Kings Tour May 22 - May 26 The Theme Park Review Scandinavia Tour June 6 - June 22. The Coasters, Corners, Canyon, and Cowabunga Tour July 31 - August August 9. The Coaster, Keys, Ken, and Caylee Tour October 16 - October 24. Description of each tour and the parks involved: The Coasters, Kickoff, Kidtums, and Casinos Tour March 21 - March 27. As many of you wisely figured out already, The Big Mike Road Show 2009 will kick off in California at West Coast Bash this year!!! Big Mike Productions is currently putting the final finishing touches on a Huge Kickoff Contest in which 35 prizes will be given out at West Coast Bash! Details will be revealed this weekend! Also highlighting this tour will be a chance to bring Kidtums a really super cool birthday present and Big Mike's 1st return to Las Vegas since he was married (now divorsed for any ladies interested) in a hot air balloon 9 years ago. This schedule also had the border crossing into Mexico that has been cancelled, thus moving the Las Vegas trip from the Summer to this trip. Here is the schedule pretty much set in stone: March 21 - Castle Amusement Park at Noon followed by two private functions. March 22 - West Coast Bash at Magic Mountain open to close. March 23 - Legoland and a possible trip to Wildlife Animal Park. March 24 - Sea World at open and Belmont Park at night. March 25 - Buffalo Bills in the afternoon and sight see Las Vegas at night. March 26 - Full day of Coasters: New York New York Adventuredome Nascar Cafe Peter Pipers Pizza Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix Startosphere thrill rides March 27 - Sight see Las Vegas and fly home. The Coasters, Craig, and Kings Tour May 22 - May 26 Memorial Day weekend trip to visit my good buddy Craig (Iggyace) and do some coaster collecting, including a visit to the most demanded destination from The Valuable Big Mike Readers for Big Mike to visit, King's Island! The trip has these possible parks to consider, a final schedule will be determined later. Illinois (staying a day later for these) Six Flags Great America Go Bananas Arlington Heights Safari Land Go Bananas Harwood Heights Kiddieland Haunted Trails Grady's Family Fun Park Indiana Paige's Crossing Indiana Beach That Fun Place John Ivers Holiday World Kentucky Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Beech Bend Ohio Coney Island Kings Island The Theme Park Review Scandinavia Tour June 6 - June 22. Big Mike will attend the absolute best trip organizers of the World Scandi Tour! Big Mike is proud and honored to be taking another one of Robb and Elissa's most magnificent trips (2006 UK, 2007 Spain, 2008 Mainland Europe). Denmark Tivoli Gardens Bon Bon Land Karolinelund Farup Sommerland Bakken Tivoli Friheden Djurs Sommerland Sommerland Syd Sweden Liseberg Gronalund Skara Sommarland Finland Sarkanniemi Linnanmaki Power Park Norway Tusenfryd Germany Hansa Park There are still 4 spots open for this trip for your chance to hang out with Big Mike for 2 weeks!! Sign up now The Coasters, Corners, Canyon, and Cowabunga Tour July 31 - August August 9. This tour includes 2 brand new state credits, Big Mike's first trip to The Grand Canyon, going to Four Corners USA (the only spot in the USA that you can stand in 4 different states at the same time) and also a special visit to my friend Shane's (Montezooma) new Cowabunga Water Park! This Tour also had a side trip to Mexico that has been cancelled. Arizona Castles and Coasters Enchanted Island Scnepf Farms Funtasticks Colorado Elitch Gardens Lakeside Mile High Flea Market Fish N Farm Santa's Workshop Glenwood Caverns New Mexico Cliff's Amusement Park iTZ Family, Fun and Food Western Playland Utah Lagoon Hollywood Connections Greater Park City Company Liberty Land The Coaster, Keys, Ken, and Caylee Tour October 16 - October 24. This tour consists of Big Mike's first ever trip to the Florida Keys, a visit to Uncle Kens, and a stop at the Caylee Anthony Memorial site to add my little rubber ducky to the offerings. Big Mike has followed this throughout and the trial could coincide with the trip. Old Town Birthday World Lowry Park Zoo Cobra Adventure Park Sam's Fun City Universal Studios Florida Sea World Orlando Busch Gardens Africa That takes care of all the tours, except for maybe a Labor Day Weekend Tour still in the works, most likely Michigan to visit my awesome step kids. Here are the other places The Big Mike Road Show plans to visit during the weekends of 2009: New York Kids N Action Adventurers Santa's Workshop New Jersey Great Adventure Pennsylvania Pocono Play Park Knoebels Massachusetts Jimini Peak Six Flags New England New Hampshire Canobie Lake Santa's Village Six Gun City Storyland Connecticut Ocean Beach Park Maine Funtown Splashtown Palace Playland Virginia Busch Gardens Europe Kings Dominion Motor World Michigan Deer Forest Kokomos Jeepers Clinton Twp Jeepers Southfield Canada Wildzone Adventures South Carolina Hard Rock Park if it reopens That's the schedule everybody! This is not to say Big Mike won't show up at other parks, and it is not a sure thing that we make all of these parks, but it is a good plan! As you can see, lots of opportunities to meet up Stay tuned for details on The Big Mike Road Show 2009 Kick-off Contest at West Coast Bash and also the rules on how you can become The Big Mike Reader of the Year 2009 and win a really cool prize! Oh yeah, The 2008 Big Mike Reader of the Year Find the Ducky Championships winner will be posted tomorrow, and a 2009 season pass prize isn't too shabby either! I will update page #1 of this thread very soon to make it easy to navigate! Thanks to all The Valuable Big Mike Readers for the outlook of another promising fun year here on the best theme park and coaster website in the World, Theme Park Review! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Friends!!!! I am sorry for the slight delay in posting The Big Mike Road Show 2009 World Tour Schedule! I was right on track with everything for the week, and Big Mike Productions actually did deliver the schedule as promised. Unfortunately, being that this is a "World Tour", Big Mike Productions is obligated to send a copy of the finalized schedule to the US Government being that Big Mike has now been deemed a Top Priority High Value Asset. We have been in contact with The US Border Patrol and Homeland Security in an attempt to make this work. I have attached below a letter sent to Big Mike Productions concerning our request to visit two amusement parks in Mexico in 2009: Travel Alert U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau of Consular Affairs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This information is current as of today, Thu Mar 11 11:09:05 2009. Mexico Mr. Big Mike, This Travel Alert updates security information for U.S. citizens traveling and living in Mexico. While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including thousands who cross the land border every day for study, tourism or business), violence in the country has increased recently. It is imperative that travelers understand the risks of travel to Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and whom to contact if one becomes a crime victim. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable. Crime and Violence Throughout Mexico The greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S. citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places. In recent years, dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped across Mexico. Many of these cases remain unresolved. U.S. citizens who believe they are being targeted for kidnapping or other crimes should notify Mexican officials and the nearest American consulate or the Embassy as soon as possible, and should consider returning to the United States. U.S. citizens should make every attempt to travel on main roads during daylight hours, particularly the toll ("cuota") roads, which generally are more secure. Travelers should leave their itinerary with a friend or family member not traveling with them, avoid traveling alone, and should check with their cellular provider prior to departure to confirm that their cell phone is capable of roaming on GSM or 3G international networks. Do not display expensive-looking jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items. Violence Along the U.S. - Mexico Border Mexican drug cartels are engaged in an increasingly violent conflict - both among themselves and with Mexican security services - for control of narcotics trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border. In order to combat violence, the government of Mexico has deployed troops in various parts of the country. U.S. citizens should cooperate fully with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways. Some recent Mexican army and police confrontations with drug cartels have resembled small-unit combat, with cartels employing automatic weapons and grenades. Large firefights have taken place in many towns and cities across Mexico but most recently in northern Mexico, including Tijuana, Chihuahua City and Ciudad Juarez. During some of these incidents, U.S. citizens have been trapped and temporarily prevented from leaving the area. This restriction was implemented in light of the recent increase in assaults, murders, and kidnappings in those two states. A number of areas along the border are experiencing rapid growth in the rates of many types of crime. Robberies, homicides, petty thefts, and carjackings have all increased over the last year across Mexico generally, with notable spikes in Tijuana and northern Baja California. Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and Nogales are among the cities which have recently experienced public shootouts during daylight hours in shopping centers and other public venues. Criminals have followed and harassed U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles in border areas including Nuevo Laredo, Matamoros, and Tijuana. The situation in Ciudad Juarez is of special concern. Mexican authorities report that more than 1,800 people have been killed in the city since January 2008. It is with deep regret that we inform you that The Big Mike Road Show 2009 may not include your proposed visits to Mexico. The US cannot afford to lose such a national treasure as Big Mike. THE US GOVERNMENT Damn!!!! I already sent The Official Big Mike Road Show 2009 T-Shirts to print too! Hopefully I can stop the presses on the shirts. I have been told that all personal at Big Mike World Headquarters has been told to drop everything and just concentrate on getting the 2009 schedule redone now that our 2 planned trips to Mexico have been cancelled! I have a commitment that they will have the newly updated 2009 schedule in my hands TODAY and I will post it to The Valuable Big Mike Readers ASAP!!!!!!! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Faithful Friends!!! All things must come to an end, and that is the case here with the final stop of The Big Mike Road Show 2008! What a tremendous year it was: from all the parks, and all the coasters, an appearance on national television, and most of all.... all the fantastic friends I met along the way!!!! I don't have a count off hand yet, but I met sooooooooo many new people this year and loved everyone one of them Just like the commercial: Parks Visited..... 105 Miles traveled.... over 33,000 New Credits..... 202 Tons of new friends... Priceless! Six Flags New England was the place for the Big Mike Year End Finale Party! Friends came from far and wide to attend, even from across the pond It was a GREAT way to end the season Not only is this the finale of the Road Trip, it is also the Finale of The Find the Ducky Championships!! Traincrossin vs. Team Thriller....Big Mike Reader of the Year 2008 and a 2009 season pass are on the line in this report! Rules are the same guys, PM me your answer of how many duckies and which pictures they are in please! Good Luck! I want to thank a few people before we get to my last trip report. Thanks to Robb and Elissa for running this awesome website and being the great friends that they are! Two totally wonderful people that has made my overseas travels possible and made me feel welcomed into this TPR community! I owe them more than they know and as I told Robb the other day, we will be friends forever! Thanks to the Mods here at TPR two fold. One for updating my front page from time to time with links to the reports, and second for keeping me in line for some of the questionable ideas and posts I made along the way! Big Mike is not perfect lol Thanks to Jeffrey, Rick, and Rich for opening up thier home to me and showing me some great hospitality and a nice soft bed to lay in at the end of a long coaster day! Thanks to everyone who came out to meet me at a park in 2008. The numbers were mindboggling and I have so many great memories to cherish forever, and this thread as a scrapbook/diary to always look back on. Finally a big thanks to all the Valuable Big Mike Readers, who I have met and also who I have not met YET, but are a constant encouragement and source of pride for always being there for Big Mike in his thread! Please enjoy! Peace, Big Mike The Big Mike Road Show 2008 has now come to a close. I can only hope that 2009 can bring as many friends and fun times! Come out and say hello! Thanks for your loyal support, Big Mike Thanks to Steve for coming all the way from England, for always being the life of the party, and for helping me check off one of my remaining boxes in Oklahoma! Thanks to James for showing me around his home park and for meeting up once again, but most of all, for checking off New Hampshire on The Official Big Mike Road Show T-Shirt! Thanks to Christiana for being an awesome as well as beautiful girl that showed me she could easily fit in as one of the guys. She also makes for some stunning arm candy for Big Mike! Thanks to Dave for being very cool and also being the last new person I met in 2008! Thanks to Jeff for coming out and sharing some fun, and hopefully your impression of me has improved hehe. Big thanks to Rich for setting this whole party up! Rich opened the season with me at the 1st big park at Six Flags over Georgia and closed the season here! Your a good friend but I would like a smile when you are with me just like when you are with Christiana! Batman Dark Knight! Didn't I see you strung up at Universal? Never got the Cyclone sign. This train is not ready. Thunderbolt! As you can now tell, I was having so much fun with my friends that my picture taking kind of took a back seat from here on out. Overview. Pandemonium! Credit #756 for Big Mike! The final crazy hat picture of 2008 was only fitting to be a Superman hat. Exclusive Signature Shot of the Day! Overview. Flashback! Credit #755 for Big Mike! The lift. The train. Jeff looks worried that Big Mike is gaining another credit closer to him with this ride. Great Chase! Fun and games time. Big Mike is 0 for his lifetime on this game. Overview. Mind Eraser! A picture of Cat Woman for the Valuable Big Mike Readers. Steve having lots of fun in the back. A nice relaxing trip through the foliage. The drop. The lift. Big Mike got the OK for the camera on the kiddie rides. The whole gang has arrived with Rich smiling more than ever with Christiana on his arm, Dave with the thumbs up, James ready to go, and Jeff and Steve in the back seat. Cat Woman's Whip! I am not sure if everyone is aware of Superman Dude, who I am told dresses up like Superman and strolls the park all day, but doesn't work there. I tried to take a picture with him and he rejected me lol. This picture is for my soon to be friend Mr. Sky Whirl! A 5 year ban if you bring a camera on this ride! Thus, no on ride photos of SROS from me. The drop. The lift. Overview. Ranked #1 coaster in the world so many times, they hang banners from the rafters just like my Detroit Red Wings! Superman Ride of Steel! Usually Big Mike's motto is go get the new credits first, but not when SROS is here. I was really hoping for a TPR Super Hottie to show up for the Finale Party, and Christiana did not let me down! Don't we look cute together modeling our TPR Zip up Hoodies? .... and comes out as The Celebrity Big Mike! Notice how before entering the park, Big Mike is usually incognito and dressed as regular citizen Mike Betzler. Once inside the park though, he goes in the phone booth as Mike Betzler.... Steve won the contest of traveling the furthest for Big Mike's Party, all the way from England, so he reluctantly had to go get interviewed. Here is the gang so far: Steve (Steve C), Christiana (HerBlackWings), Rich (sfne2005), Jeff (JnETrains), and Big Mike. Dave (DaveH80) and James (Canobie Fan) will arrive later. The prices. Six Flags New England! Stop #105.

Hello Friends!!! I wrangled up a few TPR friends and made a day of it at Canobie Lake Park! I hope you enjoy! Peace, Big Mike This was a great day and night thanks to these really great friends!!! Thanks guys! Hope you enjoyed! Peace, Big Mike Spooky World was fun, consisting of 4 different haunted houses. We all dared to enter Spooky World! Other rides: There was another coaster at the park, Dragon, but that part of the park was closed and I could not even get a picture. Instead we played the World's largest pinball machine. Loop action. Theming. The lift. The train. Canobie Corkscrew! Credit #754 for Big Mike! Credit #753 for Big Mike! Also letting me share some fun with them were Rich (sfne2005) and Steve (stevec)! I almost forgot! I had a few friends that I was hanging out with too! This is James (Canobiefan). No better way to enjoy Canobie than from the main man himself! The lift. Overview. Yankee Cannonball! The park map. The prices. Canobie Lake Park, stop #104 on The Big Mike Road Show 2008!

Hello Friends!! This report is Stop #103 on The Big Mike Road Show 2008! I hope you enjoy! Peace, Big Mike Credit #752 for Big Mike! Hope you enjoyed! Part 2 of the double feature, Canobie Lake Park is next! More theming. Theming. The coaster is surrounded my mirrors. The great thing about asking the operator if you can bring a camera on the ride is after they say it is ok, you ask them to take a picture of yourself too. The train. Overview. Got my ticket. The Orient Express! On my way up to the 3rd floor, I passed some other rides: The prices. After a few phone calls, I finally found Fun World in Nashua New Hampshire! My friend Rich had told me the coaster was on the 3rd floor. My GPS guided me to this building, which also had 3 floors. I am sure the office people on the 3rd floor had a nice laugh after I left when I went up and asked them where they were hiding the roller coaster! Damn GPS got me again. Big Mike jumped in the Hot Rod one fine October morning and headed up North.

Extremely Entertaining!

Hi Mr. Sky Whirl (sorry for the informality, but I have not caught your real name yet) I would be happy to answer all your questions! I know I have answered some of these questions before in other interviews, but I am too lazy to go look them up, so I will wing it. I do think this is the qst time I was ever asked so many on here though, so it should be cool to everyone else to get a behind the scenes look at at too! I know you have not been my biggest fan all along, but everyone is free to share thier own opinion! I scrolled down to see your name and thought to myself, I have not heard from him in a while. My goal in 2009 is to "Leave no Big Mike Reader Behind"! I will try to win you over (along with Mark) and hopefully see a Big Mike Valuable Reader Banner in your profile very soon! At least I know I will have tried! OK, on to the interview: I try and get permission every single time I get on a coaster. I will go right up to them and ask them if I can take my camera on. If I get a NO answer, I simply wont bring it on, no fuss or complaining. Most small parks let you, most big parks are 50/50. I have had the luck to go on trips with Robb and he will "try" to get us permission. Sometimes they tape the camera to our hand even. Sometimes Robb says the park says no and everyone understands Robb tried. You have to realize that I am actually "representing" Robb's website, so even if the readers want on ride photos, I cannot do anything to harm Robbs relationships with the parks. A great example is my last trip report, as SFNE forbid cameras on all rides, and you will not see an on board shot in the update. I would not use the word creepy on kiddie rides, but maybe a little weird would due. I think you will be surprised at the outcome of the parents talk though. I especially made my shirt just so that when I ride the kiddie coasters, people can see that I am "traveling the world riding roller coasters", so they kind of understand a little better and I look less like a dufuss! Parents come up and ask about the trip and then actually WANT me to ride with thier kids sometimes, kind of odd but works for me! I will be keeping the same thread so admittantly I can move up the rankings. I am sure that is not hard for anyone to believe of me lol. I will try to make it easier to find certain areas though. I am not too big of a fan of either park, but would lean towards Gurnee for the rides and lean towards Cali for the atmosphere. I have been with UPS for 24 years, getting 5 weeks of vacation. Next year I will top out at 6 weeks. I also get an option week. So I use all those, plus the holiday weeks and weekends. I am at work now so I am not sure of the number of closed down parks. I am actually working on a spreadsheet now so I will have that number one of these days. I will post it in the future. I hope I answered them all, kind of rushing inbetween jobs! I hope to see a Big Mike Banner one day Peace, Big Mike

Hi there Friends!! The Big Mike Road Show 2008 is coming to a close and The Big Mike Road Show 2009 is about to debut!!! All this week, every single night, there will be an update so that we can finish up the last 3 remaining parks of 2008 and check out all the exciting plans and destinations for 2009! Here is a schedule of events so you won't miss anything: Tonight we will have a double feature once again. Look forward to seeing Fun World and Canobie Lake with some familiar TPR guest stars! Tuesday will be the exciting and thrilling Year End Party that took place at Six Flags New England!! The season finale was a lot of fun and was nicely attended by a bunch of TPR favorites to celebrate Big Mike's last tour stop of the year! Also during this last report, The Big Mike Reader of the Year Find the Ducky Champion will be crowned, with the winner getting a 2009 season pass!!! Wednesday I have been PROMISED by the big wigs at Big Mike Productions that they will finally unvail The Official Big Mike Road Show 2009 World Tour Schedule!!! I hope you are all as excited as I am to find out exactly where Big Mike will be traveling to this year! I am exceptionally dying to find out exactly where the Big Mike Road Show kicks off the season for 2009, still only being told that it will be on March 22nd! That's coming up fast! Thursday, I have been informed by a few employees from Big Mike Productions World Headquarters speaking off the record anonymously that they are ready to announce some brand new contests and ideas and they ALL tell me that the highlight of the announcement is that the Big Mike Reader of the Year prize this year will be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than last years 2009 season pass!!! Of course none of this prize talk can be confirmed yet, but sounds highly unlikely to Big Mike since the season pass is already one of the best prizes ever! Who knows though, we will have to wait and see! Wow!!! Speak of the devil! I litterly JUST got a call as I was writing this from the Public Relations Manager of The Big Mike Road Show and he was able to confirm with me without giving the prize away, that YES indeed, the Big Mike Reader of the Year prize in 2009 will be worth at least FIVE times what the 2008 prize was worth!!!! OMG!!!!!! I asked him "How in the World did we pull that off?" And he said that since the Big Mike Road Show was such a HUGE success in its rookie year that the 2009 budget has been increased due to advertisers recognizing that with all The Valuable Big Mike Reader Banners out there, this thread could be a gold mine to them! Plus with all the royalties from the many TV interviews, Podcast interviews, personal appearances, and Jay Leno Show... Despite the recession, The Big Mike Road Show Empire is stronger than ever! The PR Manager could tell that I still didn't believe him! I must admit that just last week I had a sit down meeting with him and explained to him that he was on the hot seat and I was looking to replace him with a much better, hot, sexy looking Public Relations person... Angel Aristone!!! I gave him one week to prove to me that he was worth keeping and looking at for another year instead of the beauty and bombshell looks of Angel. He responded with this prize, but that is NOT all!!! Just to solidify his job and to make all the Valuable Big Mike Readers the happiest they can be, he now announces this also: The PR manager has just told me that the crew is setting up a "Kick-off Party" to open the season at whatever park we are going to open at!! The best part of it all is that they are opening the prize vault at Big Mike World Headquarters wide open and emptying it out, and loading all the prizes into the Big Mike Prize Patrol Van and driving that baby to the Kick-off Party and giving them out to Valuable Big Mike Readers!!! Just between me and my readers, there were over 30 prizes in the vault last time I looked!!! Thus, the Grand Prize and a list of the Kick-off prizes is is what will be posted Friday to end the week! This WAS a Monumental announcement!!!! OK, I am going back to work on the brand new 2009 Official Big Mike Road Show Logo and also the totally new and re-designed Official Big Mike Road Show World Tour 2009 T-Shirt! Look forward to seeing everyone in 2009!!!! Peace, Big Mike

Thanks. I will agree with CTU Agent's post after this one, there is no way I could even pull in this much excitement and views even if I did ten times the self promoting I am doing now! lol It's exhausting just doing what I am doing I am completely satisfied having my little slice of the TPR pie, all of which makes Theme Park Review a better place to visit and entertain. Robb will always be the "Ace" in the TPR deck of cards, and Elissa is the best "Queen" there is, and I figure Big Mike is the "Joker" card that you throw out when you open the deck! I am still sticking with my exclusive guess of Happy Valley! Peace, Big Mike

Cool, I hope you like working there! I am in North Jersey and never heard of the place. Peace, Big Mike

Damn!! 30,000 views in 2 days At this rate, if you guys can travel for 9 more days, you will blow right past my thread lol. Peace, Big Mike

I have a bad feeling that even The Big Mike Charm may not get me on this coaster! I may have to come up with an alternative plan. Peace, Big Mike

I am going to guess that it was a guy in the line with the UFC shirt. I won't even try to guess about the cat, but did not see him on my visit there. I think the family photo with Mickey looks fantastic! Glad everyone had a fun time!!!!! Peace, Big Mike PS - Say hi to everyone for me

Hey Great Friends!!! Park #102 already!!! Only 3 more to go after this one in the 2008 season. This was the last park I visited in California during my visit, and it was cool of Rick and Gyendolynne to come out once again after they let me stay at The Coaster Palooza Hotel! I had all the credits at this park already but Big Mike was guest starring in a Theme Park Show!!!! The interview took a lot longer than planned (they must have loved Big Mike) so the park pictures were toned down. Hope you enjoy!! Peace, Big Mike That's all! Big Mike did quite a few camera interviews this year, so if you see Big Mike's face pop up on a tv show somewhere, let me know!!! Hope you enjoyed! Peace, Big Mike They must have loved Big Mike since it was supposed to be a short interview and they kept Big Mike for wayyyy longer than that! The interview was part of a special on theme parks, and they wanted someone who had a lot of expertise! Finally, the big interview with Big Mike! Let the cameras roll! Other rides at the park: Taxi Jam! Just putting this one up to show Rick was actually showing Steeler pride before they won the Superbowl. Vortex! I am out of Halloween pictures so I added this one. Rick was asking about being a scare monster and the lady asked him to try and scare her! The Demon! Invertigo! The Grizzly! There were a few of them too! I so would have been in there if I did not have to look good for the cameras later. This looked totally awesome! Psycho Mouse! This Jack in the Box was really cool, it actually popped out of the box! Runaway Reptar! Between showing you coasters, I will put in a Halloween picture to mix things up! Flight Deck! Also, here is Al! We met some cool people today too, here is Ryan! Behind the scenes of The Coaster Palooza Tour with Rick and Gyendolynne. The park map. The prices. California's Great America! Stop #102 on The Big Mike Road Show 2008.

I will admit I never heard of Ed Hardy before this, but I just read this today: Madonna is reportedly teaming up with Christian Audigier to design a line of clothing with his Ed Hardy brand. The range is said to include the familiar tattoo printed T-shirts and bodices covered in crystals. Now it looks like there will be even more Ed Hardy people to annoy you lol. Peace, Big Mike

I will agree with Scott that they are at or are just stopping at The Sante Fe Hotel in Disney Paris. From there I will guess a visit to China to Happy Valley. Peace, Big Mike

I am loving everything so far!! I am really happy for Parker, I know how much he loves coasters! It is really nice to see you guys again, if only through pictures. For everyone reading, Jeffrey and April are not only really cool parents, they are tremendously awesome people and definately great friends of mine!! Did you guys get to ride X2 before it broke? Send my birthday wishes to Parker as well!!!! I enjoyed seeing Parker sporting the Prowler shirt Cant wait to see more! All the best, Big Mike

Part two of the double feature!! The correct answer was 9, but only James came up with the ducky on the highest candy corn above the sign! This contest has now been declared null and void and the Championship WILL be decided on the closing segment of The Big Mike Road Show, stop #105!! What a way to end the year!!! Good luck guys and I hope everyone enjoyed! Now go sign up for West Coast Bash! Peace, Big Mike One more to go for the free season pass and Patrick guesses a ducky in this picture, which sadly, is incorrect! James breathes a sigh of relief!! Patrick moves to within one ducky of claiming the championship after he found the ducky on the post near Mickey's eye! Patrick also found the ducky on the horse where the girl is looking down. Patrick found the ducky on the mountain to the left of the picture taker. How did you miss the one in my hand James??? LOL Patrick got it, which eliminates James! Did Patrick get them all for the win though? Another one in the hand, which both players got. These were the only matches both players had. Both found the one in the flowers. Both guessed this one in his hand also. Well the Championship Round has been played and ALL the duckies were found, so lets see if someone guessed them all correctly and can be crowned Champion! The results were wide spread, Team Thriller guessed 5 duckies, Traincrossin guessed 9 duckies! Both guessed this easy one! We end with an open space which is now home to Terminator! Now on to the ducky Championships! Overview. Viper! Launch pad. The car. Overview. Superman! Overview. Ninja! Six Flags Magic Mountain is Elissa friendly. The lift. Canyon Blaster! Credit #751 for Big Mike! I should just bottle The Big Mike Charm and sell it so I can retire! As you can see, I used up all that I had! BAM!!!!!!!!!! Percy's Railway! Wait a minute! Is that a female ride op? I will have to use a TON of Big Mike Charm to get on this coaster, but at least I have to try!!! Hmmm, a 54 inch height limit and Big Mike at 71 inches. No chance! Time for Big Mike to check out the kiddie coaster. Goliath! Lift. Overview. Scream! Credit #750 for Big Mike! Big Mike met Don and Paula, and told them to join Theme Park Review! Hope they did!

Hello Fantastic and Fabulous Friends!!! Big news once again!! Seems every report lately has some kind of big news or announcement! Where to start???? Actually before we start, congrats to Brian for his 200th post, nicely placed both times OK, first we have the Championship Round of the Find the Ducky Finals!! Great going guys, ALL THE DUCKIES WERE FOUND!!!! Now the interesting part! Who is the Champion????? I will just give you a hint for now until you read further, there was a HUGE difference in the guesses!!! Secondly, this is the 101st park The Big Mike Road Show visited in 2008 and it is called Six Flags Magic Mountain!!! Big Mike needed to pick up 4 credits here, but with the kiddie coaster I will probably only get 3 If you did not sign up for West Coast Bash 2009 coming up in a few weeks, after you see these coasters in my report, YOU WILL WANT TO!!! For everyone already signed up, let this just wet your appetite for the fun you will all have!! Coincedence has it that West Coast Bash just happens to fall on the exact day that The Big Mike Road Show 2009 kicks off! I wish I could be there with everyone but Big Mike Productions is keeping me in the dark on where they are sending me that day, but I highly doubt that they would send me cross country and not give me any warning at all. Who knows, but my guess is I am being sent to some indoor kiddie park around here while everyone else gets to ride Big Mike's #1 coaster in the world, X2! Ugh, I am going to be sooooo jealous! Lastly, the BIG news. The Big Mike Road Show 2008 has now OFFICIALLY become the #1 thread of all 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was a little asterick next to us for the time being as the 2008 Europe thread was beating us but that had been a "sticky" thread, which is always displayed right on top and had an unfair advantage. It is with great honor that I now display for you the new standings as of yesterday: Most Viewed Topics Rank Views Topic 1 703373 The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread!!! 2 626079 Photo TR: Fantazy Land, Alexandria, Egypt. 3 532074 The Official "TPR In Europe" Ongoing TR Thread. 4 444904 The "Official" TPR Returns To Asia Ongoing TR! 5 393327 The Official TPR Spain & Mini-Europe Trip 2007 Thread 6 387641 The Official "TPR Japan Trip 2007" Thread 7 344328 The "Picture Of Me" Thread 8 292904 Theme Park Review's 2008 Asia Tour! 9 282782 Cedar Point's Maverick - Park's 17th Roller Coaster 10 280010 Shane's Amusement Attic 11 268651 The Official "TPR MidWest USA 2007" Trip Thread! 12 263190 The BIG MIKE ROAD SHOW 2008 - PTR's of 105 parks! We did it! 13 262838 The Official "TPR Europe Trip 2008" Thread We have overcome!!!!!! Thanks to all The Valuable Big Mike Readers once again!!!!!!!!! You guys are a force to be reckon with, especially with your fancy Big Mike Banners, a sign that you guys rule the roost! Well here is Six Flags Magic Mountain, so big that it is being shown in a double feature presentation tonight! Stay tuned at the end of the 2nd half for the Find the Ducky Championship results!!! Hope you enjoy! Peace, Big Mike Here are your hosts for today's show, and you can virtually hear them saying "Doooooon't go away, part two of the double feature is coming up next! The train. Overview. Batman the Ride! It's a stand up coaster. Side view. Overview. Riddler's Revenge! Where to now?? So many coasters? Try guessing which one is next. Gold Rusher! Overview. Deja Vu! A flying coaster. Overview. Tatsu! Credit #748 for Big Mike! Revolution! Not shown, but they also added fire effects to the ride. I can't wait to ride again some day! This thing is a masterpiece. The lift. Speakers now on each seat blast Metallica on the lift hill, another one of Big Mike's favorites! The seats, which flip as you ride! Big Mike had X as his #1 coaster, and now the new enhancements of X2 has solidified the spot at the top! Overview. X2!!! Big Mike rated Best Coaster on the Planet!!! Here is Scott (coasterguy4). These guys were super cool and gave Big Mike some short cut hints to help me out. They were also traveling with some hot babes! Hats off to these cool guys! First, the most important thing! Valuable Big Mike Readers came out to say hello! Here is Benji (COASTAH FREAK) The park map with 16 coasters. The prices. Six Flags Magic Mountain, stop #101 on The Big Mike Road Show 2008!