Big Mike

^ VERY COOL!!! I am leaning towards the idea of having a face picture kind of like that on the front of the new Official Big Mike Road Show 2009 T-Shirt!! I am looking for a picture of me smiling with just an outline in black, so it can print on the shirt. Of course, Big Mike is inept at this stuff, so if any Valuable Big Mike Readers can come up with some ideas, your work will be displayed throughout the year on the T-Shirt Peace, Big Mike

Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire has revealed its new rollercoaster concept for the 2009 season and, it's a world's first! The ride; named 'Mumbo Jumbo', will feature the most extreme drop in history plunging thrill seekers 112° from a high point of 30 metres generating in excess of 4Gs on it's passengers. Owner Gordon Gibb said: "It is exciting for a relatively small family business like Flamingo Land to be punching well above its weight. The manufacturer (S&S) are legendary within the industry and Mumbo Jumbo looks set to become a National icon, we are all very excited!" In explanation of the ride's strange name, it was revealed that Mumbo Jumbo is a 'tongue in cheek' description of how other theme parks boast about their new rides and attractions, but Flamingo Land insist their new addition is the real deal. Mumbo Jumbo will be opened by Guinness World Records in July 2009 when it is expected that the world record breaking achievement will be officially recognised. Andrea Banfi of Guinness World Records revealed; 'We will be in attendance at the opening of Flamingo Land's new rollercoaster and look forward to this new Guinness World Records™ record in the steepest roller coaster made from steel category'. Mumbo Jumbo will cost in excess of £4 million and will be Flamingo Land's eighth rollercoaster. The North Yorkshire operation also has an exotic and endangered animal collection explaining the Company Logo 'Wild Animals, Wilder Rides'

I cashed in on this great deal, now I will have a pullover and a zip up! I am excited Peace, Big Mike

Hello once again great friends!!! The Big Mike Road Show 2008 moves along to Gilroy Gardens this time! This was a very nice place, and also very scenic. My good friends Rick and Gyendolynne are with me one last time before I head down to Southern California to continue the tour. I also have included a picture of the birthday cards that were sent to Big Mike World Headquarters for Big Mike's birthday! First though, Big Mike semi started the coaster 2009 season this weekend with a trip to NY to check out ACE's NY Region Winter get together! Big Mike went as a TPR reporter, bringing back all the valuable info to the Valuable Big Mike Readers, as well as promoting Theme Park Review's website and trips! I got into 3 conversations about TPR trips!!! There was a part of the day where everyone had to introduce themselves and explain a little about themselves and when it was my turn, I talked about The Big Mike Road Show and two girls both said "Ahhhh"! Big Mike Mania is spreading as they were readers!! Rye Playland and Deno's Wonder Wheel were in attendance telling us all about their parks and plans for 2009 also! So, on to the report my friends!! Peace, Big Mike We will conclude this trip report with Big Mike's birthday cards!!! Thanks Jon and Daron for thinking of me and you are now added to the Big Mike Road Show Holiday Card list for 2009!! Hope you enjoyed! Peace, Big Mike The main objection that Dennis had with the plan as you can see on this picture is that the city wants to build a road right through his park called Wonder Way. This street would connect the Parachute ride, the Wonder Wheel, and the Cyclone all by one road. The suggested road would be right in front of the Wonder wheel, cutting it off from the rest of his park. Dennis did say that he has heard there will be rides in the front part of Astroland this year. Dennis and the ACE members got in a big talk about the future of Coney Island and the plans the city has presented them. This is a map of the proposed ideas. Deno's talked about the Wonder Wheel turning 89 years old. The boardwalk is all being redone, with cement under the boardwalk this time and boards over the cement. The new ride at Deno's this year will be a mini pirate ship for the kids. They handed out a picture that showed this new coaster at Coney Island. Deno's was up next and their main message that they want to get out is that Coney Island is STILL OPEN! Yes, Astroland is closed, but everything else is STILL OPEN! Rye was up first and described their new pay one price pricing this year. You can read all about the stats in the picture. Ken also told us that Rye Playland was the 1st planned amusement park in the country. Rye has one of only 3 derby races left in the world with the other two at Cedar Point and Blackpool. This year Rye will have a high wire act with the Walendas. Rye is also lowering it's parking prices by a few dollars. Rye is also adding a Rain Guarentee this season so if it rains and they close, you get another day free. The overall message from Rye was that they were lowering prices, yet you could still pay the $5 admission and buy points just to ride a few coasters if you wanted. Here are the guests of the day. On the right is Dennis, Co-Owner of Deno's Wonder Wheel. On the right is Ken from Rye Playland. Freebies and prizes! A very nice cake. Big Mike's immediate attention was to focus on the food. I was met by my new good friend Luko (simlesa). Luko is the 1st TPR member I have met in 2009! A secondary mission was to talk to the guy from Rye Playland and ask him to get me on the kiddie coaster that adults are not allowed to ride. Yesterday, Big Mike took a trip to NY to check out ACE's NY Region Winter Meeting and get all the scoops for the Valuable Big Mike Readers. Big Mike has to kiss goodbye to Rick, Gyendoynne, and Gilroy Gardens for now. It was a great visit!! Here are some other rides that you can amuse yourself with at Gilroy Gardens: Not only does Big Mike love mazes, he also loves ducks! Some wildlife could be seen too. Gilroy Gardens is known for their circus trees. You could also choose old fashion cars or the cool hot rods that Big Mike drove. Wetness. A car wash! Theming. Tunnels. (2 tunnel pictures in this report for Valuable Big Mike Reader Tunnel Lover) Pretty. Come on a tour with Big Mike and let him show you the course. Another attraction that really impressed me at this park was the cars. Credit #733 for Big Mike! Even a tunnel. Lots of sharp turns. There is track all over the place. More theming. Theming. The signature move stolen from Rich who stole it from Big Mike. The lift. The train. Quicksilver Express! Look what Big Mike found on the way to the other coaster! A maze! Big Mike LOVES mazes. Credit #732 for Big Mike! Rick and Gyendoynne. The lift. The train. It does twist through the timber. Timber Twister! The park map. The prices. My companions for this stop once again is Rick (CoasterPalooza) and his great wife Gyendolynne! Gilroy Gardens in California!!!

I love you Jimmy Bo! I lost fair and square. Can I come on the yacht now??? Peace, Big Mike

Hey, I see a whale in the top right corner of that picture! It is even clearer than the whale picture you won with I have NEVER seen a "Double Shenanigans" before! Peace, Big Mike

I can't wait to ride a coaster with Shawn Reese and you guys!!! Your trip reports are awesome to read, I enjoyed it a lot. It is also cool to be reading along and come across a Big Mike shout out The bikini pictures were great too!! Hope to run into you and your family sometime somewhere in 2009! Peace, Big Mike

Hello Great Friends!!!!! It's time for another update This time The Big Mike Road Show 2008 will feature Pixieland, in Concord California!!! Once again in attendance along with Big Mike is Rick (CoasterPalooza) and his awesome wife Gyendolynne! First though, before we go to the trip report, a Valuable Big Mike Reader is asking for some help once again! Chrissie, who I have been communicating with a long time and is a really cool friend of the Big Man, is doing a university study and would like some help filling out a short questionairre on Disney! If all the Valuable Big Mike readers could help her out, I am sure she would be thrilled! Here is the link: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48663&start=0 Tell her Big Mike sent ya so I get some brownie points with her! Anyway, it has been some time now since Big Mike Productions has published the overall Theme Park Review Thread Standings!!!! So that being the case, here they are for your viewing pleasure: Rank Replies Topic 1 12336 What song are you listening to? 2 10747 The "Say Something Random" Thread 3 8340 GAME: Yes or No Game 4 6503 The SFMM Discussion Thread!!! 5 4966 Roller Coaster Game 6 4007 What Was the Last Beer You Drank? 7 3850 The "Picture Of Me" Thread 8 3316 What Was The Last Coaster You Rode? 9 3313 Game-The Guy Above Me 10 3247 The "Rant" Thread 11 2589 The Official "Cedar Point 2007 Project" Thread 12 2548 Movies, Movies, Movies..... 13 2249 The BIG MIKE ROAD SHOW 2008 - PTR's of 105 parks! We did it! We have moved up 3 spots since the last time we updated this!!! Rank Views Topic 1 668897 The SFMM Discussion Thread!!! 2 612857 Photo TR: Fantazy Land, Alexandria, Egypt. 3 521856 The Official "TPR In Europe" Ongoing TR Thread. 4 438259 The "Official" TPR Returns To Asia Ongoing TR! 5 385212 The Official TPR Spain & Mini-Europe Trip 2007 Thread 6 378468 The Official "TPR Japan Trip 2007" Thread 7 336816 The "Picture Of Me" Thread 8 279074 Cedar Point's Maverick - Park's 17th Roller Coaster 9 262968 The Official "TPR MidWest USA 2007" Trip Thread! 10 251267 Shane's Amusement Attic 11 249908 The Official "TPR Europe Trip 2008" Thread! 12 244105 The "Say Something Random" Thread 13 237889 The BIG MIKE ROAD SHOW 2008 - PTR's of 105 parks! We did it! We have moved up 2 spots here also! This makes The Big Mike Road Show 2008 thread a top 13 thread of ALL TIME in BOTH catagories, views and replies!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE VALUABLE BIG MIKE READERS The Big Mike Road Show thread has vaulted up to the 4th best OVERALL thread in Theme Park Review HISTORY!!! Only The SFMM Discussion Thread, The "Picture Of Me" Thread, and The "Say Something Random" Thread is ahead of The Big Mike Show in both catagories!! WOW!!!! And we are still only in our ROOKIE season! Amazing!!! Lastly, Big Mike would like to thank everyone who sent a birthday card to Big Mike World Headquarters! I will post them in the next few reports and am eternally greatful! OK, on to PIXIELAND!!!! Peace, Big Mike That is it from Pixieland! FYI - if you forgot your diaper during your visit, you can buy one at Pixieland! Hope you enjoyed! Peace, Big Mike Here are some other rides at Pixieland: Credit #731 for Big Mike! Theming. Aerial shot! The lift. Rick is signaling me that it is time to go. (I was with Rick at Yankee Stadium when he bought that hat!) Before we could collect the credit, the ride op was estatic that Big Mike was actually riding one of her rides and wanted to take a picture! Rick and Gyendolynne needed the credit too! I got my ride coupon and it is time to collect another coaster credit! The Dragon Coaster! The park map. The prices. (Notice the ducky! The Championship Round of Find the Ducky is 8 trip reports away in the Disney reports coming up!) Pixieland! Rick, Gyendolynne, and Big Mike journey to Pixieland using the sometimes reliable GPS! This time it was reliable.

Guy Posted this at 7am the day AFTER I PMed you! I call shananigans! Peace, Big Mike

Damn right I am jealous lol How do we know for a fact that the picture I chose did not have a whale in it too??? When I match them up, it looks like the same black blob! I got ripped off dude! Grrrrr, I hate losing! Peace, Big Mike

ICE BAT and The Dave Experience rule!!!!!!!! I remember the day I had the honor of taking a picture with Ice Bat!! I never saw it though, can you please post it Dave so I can add it to my thread of friends I met this year? Thanks! Peace, Big Mike

S.O.B! Not only did I enter this last round less than an hour after it posted, and triple checked all the reports, I still totally missed that damn picture! Now I know how everyone feels when they miss the find the ducky answers. Congrats to the winners even though some of my other picks look more like a whale than that one lol. Peace, Big Mike

I got all 5! Peace, Big Mike

Hi Chrissie!!! We have been buds for a looooong time, so of course I helped you out. Peace, Big Mike

Hey, there was no mention of Big Mike in this last segment!! My guess is on the way! Peace, Big Mike

Robb is absolutely, hands down, the best in the business for roller coaster videos!!! Second best is not even close either. Peace, Big Mike

Jimbo Dude laying down the challenge to Big Mike about whos VIP status is higher!!! LOL It's on Buddy! I will officially admit defeat in the girlfriend catagory as you really lucked out and Cassie is getting cuter every time I see her! Thanks for the 3 shout outs Glad you had a great time pal, but who are we kidding here, you would rather be hanging with me because you KNOW Big Mike is the ultra VIP! Peace, Big Mike

^ I just read that 10 minutes ago. The water is so dark that they cant even see that far down in it and the engine was there the whole time lol. Peace, Big Mike

Hello Friends!!!! Thanks very much for all the awesome birthday wishes, it was very overwhelming to see such great support!! Well todays trip report will cover Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California, the 90th stop on The Big Mike Road Show 2008! I will also post a few extra pictures from the Intrepid trip report I did last week, which are pictures that I did not include in the trip report but just happens to be EXACTLY where the US Airways jet splashed down in the Hudson River! Lastly, Big Mike Productions has been granted exclusive rights to interview the Theme Park Review Donkey! The WORLD PREMIERE of the TPR Donkey is at the end of the report with a quick Q&A segment. Before we start, I want to give special thanks to Rick (Coasterpalooza) and his wife Gyendolynne for letting me be a guest at The Coaster Palooza Hotel!! Now, what everyone has been waiting for! Big Mike interviews the Theme Park Review Donkey! As you all know, Theme Park Review has a forum called "Theme Parks, Roller Coasters and Donkeys"! You always see Theme Parks, you always see Roller Coasters, but you NEVER see Donkeys!!! Well Big Mike, since he is a man of the people and the little guys, decided that the Donkey needed to be recognized for his valuable contributions to the site. Big Mike called in advance and set up this informal one on one chat with the Theme Park Review Donkey, who moonlights at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for a 2nd job to make ends meet in this tough economy! Here is how the interview went: BM -Good afternoon TPR Donkey, it is great to finally meet you! D - It is nice to meet you too Big Mike, I have been a big fan from day #1 of your thread and I knew if there was one person out there that would be friendly enough to come see me, it would be you! BM - I do my best to promote TPR and to meet all of the great members, it is just something I enjoy doing. Can I ask you a few questions Donkey? D - Of course Big Mike, but first I just want to know if I can check off The Official Big Mike Road Show 2008 T-Shirt??? BM - We will see Donkey. OK question #1 How do you like being the TPR Donkey? D - I used to be living the high life. Robb, Elissa and I would do everything together! Play video games, go to Mc Donalds, go on cruises, have threesomes in bed, I was the gleam in thier eyes! Grrrrr! BM - Do I sense some anger Donkey? What happened?? D - KIDTUMS! Thats what happened! Everybody is now Kidtums this, Kidtums that, what about Donkey anymore?????? BM - I still love you Donkey! Question #2 Do you have any relatives on TPR? D - Oh I am sure you have seen them Big Mike. Of course you know the Donkey comes from the "Ass" family, and I am sure you have seen a few Asses commenting and hating in your thread, those are my relatives. BM - Question #3 - Do you get any royalties for having your face on the Theme Park Review site or luggage tags? D - Robb and I have come up with an agreement, Robb can use my likeness anyway he feels fit and in return Robb won't eat me. BM - Question #4 What is your favorite time of year? D - Any holiday when we all get together and Elissa's Mom comes over and I get to gaze at her beauty! I often have dreams of me and her starring in a donkey show together, but she is to high class for that. I can always dream though. BM - Thanks Donkey! Any last things you would like to tell the Theme Park Review membership? D - Yes, Theme Park Review has been very very good to me. By supporting TPR with clothing or dvd purchases, you can avoid me having to make these public appearances at SFDK and I get a carrot for every sale if you mention the donkey sent ya there! Remember everyone, when you are enjoying theme parks and roller coasters, just don't forget about the Donkey!!! I love you Big Mike! Thanks, but I have to get back to work now. BM - I love you too Donkey! Nice chatting with you. ... Gyendolynne and Rick! Awwwww! How cute! Thanks guys!!! Big Mike gives Six Flags Discovery Kingdom two thumbs up, one thumbs up for each of my two special friends... Of course, this park is not all about coasters alone. Discovery Kingdom has animals too, which is Big Mike Approved as Big Mike likes to get in touch with his nature side on occasion. Boomerang - Coast to Coaster! The lift. Road Runner Express! By now, Gyendolynne was in need of a nice foot massage and secretly dipped into Rick's smashed penny fund. Overview. Kong! Six Flags management were smart enough to hire Rick for the big Halloween party DJ job instead of Samantha Ronson! Rick is way better for sure! Once again, a totally empty station for us! Cobra! We met up with Theme Park Review member Kevin (doubleOkevin) and he filled us in on a lot of the Halloween happenings going on in the park, which was very interesting to hear! Thanks Kevin!!! The lift. Here is Roar as part of a triple overview. Roar! Here is Big Mike giving this cat some lessons on how to get into the role. The lift. Another empty station for us. Semi overview. Medusa! Credit #730 for Big Mike! Charles let us be the 1st people on the ride and here he is giving it a test run. Thanks Charles!!! We got to meet Theme Park Review member Charles (Noobitizer) who was really cool to us. The lift. The car. Overview. Tony Hawk's Big Spin! Credit #729 for Big Mike! The charactors were dressed up in Halloween costumes too, which was really cool. Here is Rick in the totally empty boarding station, a scene that replayed itself the whole day. Here is a view from the other side. I like how this one just seems to come to an end instead of going straight up. Overview. V2 - Vertical Velocity! Credit #728 for Big Mike! It was Halloween time, so everything was decorated up! Stop #90 on The Big Mike Road Show 2008, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California! Here are my gracious hosts Rick and Gyendolynne! Now on to the trip report. Big Mike is welcomed to the Coaster Palooza Hotel by a nice huge sign upon arrival!! This sign is now hung on the walls at Big Mike World Headquarters! Fortunately for everyone on the plane, the ferry boat terminal is right where the plane went down, so there was a very quick response and help on the scene and thankfully everyone was saved!!! The End As you can see, the water is very dark and murky, which is hampering the efforts to find the two engines that fell off. I am not exactly sure why I took these pictures as they are not really anything spectacular, but now it all makes sense weirdly. This is looking up the river where the plane would have been coming down for the landing. Here is Big Mike less than 2 weeks ago at the Intrepid Museum on 46th street, which is Exactly where news reports say the US Airways jet splash landed in the Hudson River! You can see that the river is not that wide and that New Jersey can be seen across the river.

Hello All, This is Joe, marketing director of Big Mike Productions. I have logged into Big Mike's account to tell you some really exciting news... IT'S BIG MIKE'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big Mike was looking to avoid the lime light, but lets not let that happen! Everyone here at Big Mike Productions, Big Mike World Headquarters, and The Big Mike Hotel wish Big Mike a very happy birthday and feel free to send him some of your love too! Thanks everybody and we are hard at work putting together an extremely awesome 2009 schedule for Big Mike, rest assured!

Wow, that is sad to see! Seems like a lot of the smaller parks that I have been visiting are going under, and some bigger ones too like Celebration City. I am glad to have experienced these before it was too late, it makes for good memories! Peace, Big Mike

Jay, I want to commend you on what a fantastic job you did on your first ever "Big Mike" picture!!! Centered perfectly! Was that you and Lindsey I met on El Toro?? Peace, Big Mike

Dear Friends!!! Big Mike World Headquarters staff and employees have been hard at work trying to put together The Big Mike Road Show 2009 schedule!!! Last years schedule did not come out until mid February and the first park visit was mid March, and that looks like the same time frame for this year. The staff would like me to inform you that a lot of work and in depth studies goes into the schedule and that they are really greatful for the overwhelming response for it to be posted soon! That being said, Big Mike does not want to disappoint the Valuable Big Mike Readers one little tiny bit, so Big Mike snuck into the top secret, off limits office of the President of Public Affairs of Big Mike Productions and snuck a really quick peak at the 2009 schedule!!! Fearing that I would be caught and funding for the 2009 World Tour would be penalized, I just looked at the very first stop. This, of course, is not 100% set in stone (maybe 95%) but the first stop that seems to be listed on the top secret Big Mike Road Show 2009 Itiniery seems to be on March 22 and supposedly there is going to be a HUGE turnout to help support Big Mike kick off the season!!!! The park was not mentioned on the top secret list, but the date March 22 seems to be the kick off day!!! When I am informed on which park it will be, I will let you know! For now, if anyone has any guesses, feel free to share them as I would like to know before the unvailing of the schedule!!! Peace, Big Mike

Good job on the race Colin, but great job getting that hot girlfriend!!! You da man! Peace, Big Mike

CONGRATS ON HITTING THE TOP 10 SHANE, YOU DA MAN!!! Peace, Big Mike