PeoplemoverMatt

Not sure what to tell you but if you're 6'3" and have a torso longer than your legs, it's impossible. Thanks for playing. I'm 6'2" and when last I checked I'm not Stacy Keibler with 3' legs. southpuddle's description is correct, though sometimes Riddler's seats don't adjust very easily, and it's very possible. Just put the seat all the way down, get in, straddle, make sure you're standing normally, then lift the seat back up to about an inch or so south of where it counts. You'll be fine.

Astro Orbitor's removal along with the rocks would make a huge difference getting in and out of Tomorrowland. All of that is long overdue for removal.

LAUSD is out all this week. Expect moderate to large crowds mostly made of up folks getting their cheap season passes and one (or more) last visit before school returns. Btw, that trash can is a superb first and last impression for the park to make.

Not just Star Tours. Just about every building in Tomorrowland needs to be demolished, save for Space Mountain, if Tomorrowland is really going to take that next step. TRON Lightcycle Power Run would have to be at or near the top of the wishlist if that ever actually happens. Then Disney could blend some IP's together and create some unique experiences. Toy Story 4 and Wreck-It Ralph are upcoming. Wrinkle In Time could also find a home, if it avoids becoming Disney's next John Carter. Perhaps Pixar could cook up a WALL-E sequel and also use that to partially revitalize Tomorrowlands on both coasts. There's probably no shortage of ideas. Unfortunately they all require the almost complete demolition of the existing Tomorrowland. That's a lengthy, expensive project, but it could be a logical one to undertake after Galaxy's Edge is up and running.

Water jets won't make or break anybody's theme park day. What would make a huge difference is that build 15 flat rides in one year idea, but SFMM's maintenance budget and department are already stretched to where half the major coasters could be down on any given day. Piling on that much more at one time would be just about the last thing they'd want to do. Trying to do too much with too few vastly underpaid people is one of those glaring deep seeded problems the park has.

Not really, which is also part of the problem. Given the SoCal theme park market, you'd think SFMM season passes could be raised higher than that with relative ease. But given that coasters and that price point are the two biggest magnets they have to draw people this far north away from USH, KBF, DLR etc. Since SFMM's attendance is already much lower than those parks, the price point is a dangerous tool to try to use to increase revenues.

If this ever changes, then you'll know SFMM has made the real improvements that it has needed for decades now. Otherwise it's all lipstick on a pig. Sure, fresh paint is great. Credit given. But what lies underneath is the real problem. That's where the park's main problems are and have been for a very long time. Aesthetical improvements are nice, but even those have proven to be rather temporary at this park over the multiple decades that some of us have known this park for. The important changes, work culture and so forth, are still absent which is why those of us who've known this park for quite a while are hesitant to show more than a passing "that's nice" about those kinds of improvements. You mention having faith. You can ask anyone on this forum. Nobody had more faith in this park than I did about 10ish years ago. Unfortunately that faith was based on these same sorts of superficial improvements that you're touting, and not the real main problems with this park. As long as those problems continue to go unaddressed and unsolved, no fresh coat of paint is going to make any sort of lasting impact. Don't get me wrong here. I still want to see SFMM improve and I hope Neil can do a great job. But I am in no way disillusioned with the reality that this park still has a lot to overcome in order to become the great park that it could be and should be.

Great pictures! Can't wait for my next visit to TDL only 6 months away!

If you watch the videos, do you hear every sound echoing all over the place in a cacophony of chaotic noise? No, because of those funky arc-shaped blue tiles all over the ceiling. They help to absorb and reduce the sound to where the ambient noise is similar to an outdoor theme park, if not quieter! As someone with sensitive hearing, I very much appreciate this level of attention to detail! The park itself was great, of course, but it was "little" (probably not a little part of their budget!) details like that one that really put IMG over the top for me. Can't wait to go back here!

Fire is still burning but I-5 and surface streets in the area are all back open.

Well it's Christmas time in Springfield once again. This year Kang and Kodos are angry about once again failing to take over Earth during Halloween so they're aiming for invasion during other holidays, like Christmas. Santa Kang is kind of hilarious and it's snowy again! This year's update already looks much better than last year's hideous Pagan crap.

There's a brush fire in the vicinity of SFMM. I-5 is closed at Magic Mtn Pkwy. So far the park does not seem to be threatened.

It's much higher quality compared to stuffing a trip full of 50 wacky worms and kiddie coasters, as was previously discussed in this thread...

THIS! Saying "I went to the Middle East to ride roller coasters" has raised quite a few eyebrows. It's usually followed by "Why?!" that's easily answered with, "World's fastest roller coaster!" Sometimes I'll also get "How many coasters you up to now?" and I'll just answer "I have no idea and I don't really care. All I know is I rode the world's fastest coaster a few days before I went up in the world's tallest building. Can't beat a trip like that!" Quality > Quantity

For one, the SoCal Select AP is still being offered. For another, those who have the SoCal AP can still renew it. This won't make much of an impact on crowds at all. What it does do is encourage gift givers to buy the SoCal Select AP for locals who need a babysitter pass, or the more expensive Deluxe/Signature APs if they're buying for those who need weekends.

I watched the episode as well. The bullet points simply said that half the place was treated for bedbugs and the water is no longer freezing. Big whoop given how bad the infestation was shown to be. The bedbugs will just march right back to where they were unless the entire place is heat treated. For massive spaces like the big center courtyard, that's an enormous job but it's necessary. Some recent reviews on TripAdvisor though talk about the place having new ownership and a friendly staff at least. There also seems to be a Public Relations Manager now. Maybe the needed turn around is slowly taking shape, though it needs to be closed down for a few months as Anthony said for it to be done properly. The whole bedbug infestation and knowing the place still hasn't been properly heat treated for it is enough to keep me away. I'm amazed the place hasn't been forceably shut down until the bedbug problem is completely gone. They wouldn't be allowed to open if the water was found to be contaminated, right? So why are they allowed to open with that kind of infestation still present even after having been demonstrated on national TV? Doesn't seem right.

That might work if the place was Six Flags Berry Farm, but it would also need VR to be complete.

The new hotel looks great. I just hope that somehow Disneyland Drive is expanded between what is now Magic Way and Ball Road. Traffic at that crazy merge point is already really bad if you time it wrong. I'm not sure I want to imagine what will happen with 6500 more parking spaces, 700 more hotel rooms plus parking, and Star Wars Land opening while that area is a huge construction zone.

I would say it took about 4 minutes to walk through it all. Lots of monsters. Plenty of scares. Unlimited trips through for anyone who wants them. It's quite literally the definition of a labor of love.

Tonight I was once again invited by Christian and Scott Sivley to cover Beware the Dark Realm for TPR. Beware the Dark Realm is a free home haunt put on annually since 2013 that benefits a local charity. This year's benefiting charity is the local Santa Clarita Valley Domestic Violence Center. 2017 marks the 46th year that Scott Sivley has been building home and professional haunts, and it certainly shows in his incredible costuming, makeup, and set design. Beware the Dark Realm is located in the northern Santa Clarita Valley of Southern California, about 8ish miles northeast of Six Flags Magic Mountain, a roughly 30 minute drive north from downtown Los Angeles or Burbank Airport, and about a 45 minute drive north from LAX depending on traffic. The haunted maze's main facade is an elaborate medieval castle which also serves as the maze's main theme. Every year new enhancements and changes are made. This year the direction of the maze was reversed compared to previous years, with guests encountering a small village whose bloodthirsty inhabitants beckon the ill-fated visitors to join them before entering the castle itself. The lighting, set design, and of course scare actors combine for a very well done haunted attraction. Having seen this last year and again this year, one of the best qualities this haunt has, in addition to their talent, is that they only let in one small group at a time. This is a technique I have noticed also being utilized by Knott's and Universal in some of their mazes this year. Being alone or in a small group, rather than in one long conga line, really up's the scare factor and creates a more intimate feel as though you're alone with the monsters. The new beginning to the maze with the creepy swamp, haunted village, as well as the winding corridors and deathly rooms of the castle itself, culminating with a daring escape through the castle dungeons, all made for a great experience that they don't charge a nickel for! How crazy is that? It's an effort that Christian, Scott and everybody involved should be very proud of. Anybody who is a fan of haunted attractions and doesn't mind a relatively short drive northward should absolutely come check this out. Beware the Dark Realm will be open from 7-10pm on October 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th this year. They're also on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Yelp. Check out some photos of this amazing home haunt below: Hi there. Ready to have a screaming good time? You'll find Beware the Dark Realm in the northern Santa Clarita Valley, roughly 8 miles northeast of Six Flags Magic Mountain, and about a 30 minute drive north from downtown Los Angeles. Hey, one of the houses in this neighborhood has suddenly become a haunted medieval castle! While you're here, instead of paying admission, why not make a donation to the SCV Domestic Violence Center? These nice ladies will help you with that. Time to have fun storming the castle... Noted! Looks like we've got a sizeable group here all waiting in the queue to go in... So they'll have to deal with crazy slider monster guy! The master of the castle will determine who is worthy to enter his domain. Here goes nothing! Immediately beyond the doorway is a creepy swamp-like jungle area. Hope nothing comes out to get me! Jeez, I knew my mother warned me about horned monster guys lurking in the swamp for a reason! Walking through the scary village... It's an eerie way to start the maze, and has some great set design. One of the villagers came out to greet me. Isn't that nice? Oh, this doesn't look good... She's seen some better days! Inside the castle, creepy organ is creepy... There's a pepper's ghost effect... "Hello, may I take possession of your soul?" Walking through the castle corridors... Hmm this looks like some kind of circus tent. Wonder who lives here? Whoa, craaaaaaaazy killer clown guys! "Hi...I'm death." Towards the end of the maze, faceless wonder here directs all to the dungeons. The dungeon is a dark and scary and full of prisoners excited to have some "fresh meat!" Normally they're too dark to really see but look how many prisoners there are, and the only way out is to get past that guy at the end! Can we possibly survive??? Here are the folks responsible for all the creepiness. They should be very proud of all their hard work in creating this terrific home haunt. Thanks again for the invite! Hope to be back again next year!

Looks like you guys are having an incredibly amazing time. Your photo of Neuschwanstein Castle there is stunning. You all must have had great weather that day. Hope you have a great rest of your trip!

The livestreaming is enjoyable to watch. Wouldn't mind seeing more of it from time to time. It was fun running into you livestreaming at Epcot after Illuminations last January. Thanks for verifying for everybody that I have the world's nerdiest pin lanyard.

People know it costs a park a bunch of money to install new rides and structures. People forget it also costs a decent amount of money to remove them. By incorporating the cost of removing a structure in with the cost of building a new project, the demolition can bring some return on the investment.

^ Since it's called a "Frame Set" I would expect there to be a frame and a transparent cover of some type also included, similar to a framed photo. Prices for framed things can run into the hundreds. Looks like they're offering a nicer way to display the set, plus an extra pin to sweeten the deal. Personally I wouldn't pay that much, but I'm sure there's quite a few pin enthusiasts who would. Then there's the profiteers who'd buy it and then immediately try to flip it for a 50% markup or more.

The Tooth Fairy did not drop a huge bucket of money from the sky marked "For The Necessary Increase in Your Staffing Budget" into the park. It's great that they're trying to be open year round, but I just cringe at any thought of exactly how this is going to work. Oh, and it's going to start right when our rainy season starts to go full bore.