jamesdillaman

In my experience, Monday (memorial Day) is actually your best bet. Most people are driving back home because they have work/school/whatever on Tuesday. I usually hit up a themepark every memorial day. This year I'll probably just go to KI, but who knows. I may have to swing up to CP to ride Maverick... -James Dillaman

Anyone wanna start one? Fly me out there, I'll play whatever... if I can't play it now, i'll learn. I've played in many garage bands, the best stint being Bodizapha (a name we coined by combining letters from our last names). Right now I play in a christian band at my church. I've written a few songs and recorded them with Garage Band, but I'm saving up for studio time to iron them out. Add me on myspace if you like: (I have one mp3 on there, but it's rough still... Everything but one backing vocal is me) http://www.myspace.com/jamesdillaman

^ Younger?!? Aren't you just 14? I couldn't sneak out to a convention before I was able to drive. Not to mention this is the utmost silliness. -James Dillaman

My parents are older than me, anyone else's? -James Dillaman

^ Yeah, I assumed you were just filming on saturday I'll be lounging at The Beach for most of the holiday Weekend. Work on my tan... -James Dillaman

If you're going to Atlanta, I wouldn't go without packing. You don't want to bring a set of keys and a leatherman to a gunfight. As for the park. Who's going to get caught in front of somebody decked out with ammo like Rambo? It's cheaper than a gold q-bot, especially if you come about your munitions illegally. [/sarcasm] -James Dillaman

^ I might be there Tuesday. If you're not in school come see me -James Dillaman

bobsled coaster

^ Yeah.... Anyway, I don't see why stuff like this even makes news. If this happened outside a mall, you probably wouldn't ever hear about it. I don't like how the media seems to convey the idea that Disney is not part of the rest of the world. The people are the same, only the scenery is different... -James Dillaman

^ Please post your photos in that thread if you prefer, but with the compliments you were receiving, I'd love to see the photos. There never are too many photo TR's, especially of this park. Look at how many Photo TR's are posted here from Six Flags Great Adventure, Cedar Point, Disney anything, etc. Please don't let another Swede on the board discourage you from sharing pictures! -James Dillaman

Do you think they'll be like the ones at DW on their flume ride? They don't really get you wet, but shoot up pretty high in the air.

^ Not to mention, even if your vehicle gets a good 30 MPG, at 3.40/gallon, that's like 60-some dollars extra right there...

^^ With no riders you can cycle pretty fast. i think the state only requires 100 cycles without breakdown or something before opening, but can't remember exactly as it's been a few years since I was a ride operator at KI. At Beast, each train could do 11 circuits in an hour (If there are no stupid guests with problems enterring and exiting the train ), and with 3 trains that equates to 33 circuits, so only 3 hours and a few minutes to get 100 cycles, or only a full day to get 100 cycles on each train, so it's very doable. -James "And beast is a LOT longer ride than maverick" Dillaman

^ Yeah, but I remember waiting FOREVER to ride the world's fastest wooden coaster when it opened. That sucked! -James Dillaman

Well with the price of gas, I'd say go to whichever is closer!!! In all seriousness. HW is a much better value than any Six Flags park, but your kids, especially having already done HW, would probably like SFOG much, MUCH better. Guy's advice is the best, if you have the ability and moolah to do either one, ask your kids, they're old enough to make their own decision. -James Dillaman

^ I haven't experienced any shaking on TTD, although I haven't been on it this year, I rode it last fall twice and it was smooth as ever. -James Dillaman

^ Neither is a car crash, provided you're wearing your seatbelt and the airbags deploy properly, but who goes round looking for that I'm glad their already installing the replacement track. I'd love to see it open as soon as possible. We planned our trip for June 14th, thinking it'd be open by then (note we planned it BEFORE we knew the opening would be delayed, but everyone knew it would be...) so I'm crossing my fingers. -James Dillaman

^ Just call me up any weekend, we'll jump in my car and be there in 3 hours (but if you're parents are asking, 4 hours ) -James Dillaman

I like the line about "Conflict of interest" as if the parks don't care if their rides hurt people, because it would definitely tarnish the most precious thing they have: their reputation. That's just bad business. Even if they didn't care about the people, which I'm sure they do, they have the bottom line in mind at least, and it is in their best interest to keep their rides as safe as possible. I have a strong dislike for sensationalist journalism, and this is a prime example. Does anyone else find it strange that thei figures for how many people were hurt aren't last year, or even the last couple years, but 3 whole years? You know why? Because the larger numbers make it seem like a larger problem than if they said 5 people out of hundreds of thousands were hurt at SFFT last year. The reporter wanted all the statistics to be in double digits at least. Let me be the first to cry: LAME. -James Dillaman

Don't forget the Indiana parks, Chuck. They're each less than 4 hours for me, and very doable day-trips. King's Island is comparably in my back yard (less than 5 minutes if you DON'T take the freeway, about 3 if you do), and CP is a doable trip for us, too, although not as close as Holiday World

^I remember jem, she was awesome. I'm shocked you didn't mention Adventure Express also. -james Dillaman

^ I didn't notice any headbanging on Volcano, but granted that's the only Intamin I've been on with OTSR's. Is KK really that bad?

In overall park experience, if you could only visit one park, which would it be? Taking into account setting, travel costs, coasters, other rides, food, lodging, and nearby attractions. I'm only wondering because I haven't been to either, but might be able to swing one. It's a toss up for which one I'd like to go to, though. -James Dillaman

Does anybody else see the parellels to Beech Bend in this place? It seems very similar... -James Dillaman

^ My dad won't even ride it anymore, but anyway, I can't imagine Maverick being that bad, especially in the first season...