TPDave

I think you have to consider two approaches to this. Enthusiasts are always after the next big thing and some new invention that will thrill them more and of course parks consider this but they also look at the balance sheet and to be successful and expand in the way that Intamin have you have to assume they have made some shrewd business decisions and won a lot of contracts on price. As for why enthusiasts really like their rides, I'll preface by saying I have no idea(!) but I wouldn't be surprised if the following had something to do with it: They work very closely with Stengel and jointly push the envelope as far as design and ride forces goes. They have been at the forefront of ejector air and are simply the best in the business at doing it. They innovate. Constantly. Obviously most people will think of the plug & play woodies but smaller things like the continuous station on Tornado (and maybe others that I'm unaware of), offset lift hill chains to eliminate antirollbaks and a general embracement of hydraulics as a power source have made the rides more technologically advanced and I assume easier to maintain. That has to count for something with the parks. Their portfolio is also huge now and they can offer such a diverse product range which helps to get them into every sector of the market. It's a pretty open ended question that you're asking and I'm interested to see what other people think about it.

OK so I just caught up on the whole snake & egg thing! Whaaaaa??? I've started Homer on his 24hr task - does it all start to make sense after that?

I went to Southport in the UK once it had stopped being a "Park" and become more of a permanent gheto fair. That was pretty bad!!

^ It doesn't have to have anything traditional. It's unlikely but we could be looking at a new design for a lift. Questions, questions, questions!

I love the stitching on that bike seat! Some more fantastic cars there, looks like a great event.

Nice shots! I especially like the first one I never get tired of seeing those crazy ejector air pictures!

Some fantastic cars there. I'd love to own a 50s hot rod pickup truck some day, probably not the most practical thing but it'd be the most unique thing in the car park! Thanks for sharing

I only just saw this, I remember when I was at the park the Dragon mouth thing wasn't really being used (I vaguely remember lesbians making out in there, might have been a dream?). It'll be nice to see it as the entrance to a badass dark ride!

Ha! I watched a season of his American show a couple of years ago, it was epic! I *think* I have time to try a cake this weekend - after that it's only a matter of time until the Wellington...

^ I sometimes have someone on speakerphone while using the phone to look something up (checking a date or something). I don't know about the states but in the UK the carries that do simultaneous talk & data do visual voicemail as well and since switching to a carrier that doesn't do visual voicemail I've noticed how annoying the old system is!!

This ride is looking fantastic. So few parks have a really iconic entrance like this is going to provide. It'll be like Universal Japan on speed

Wow, looks like a really in depth tour of a fascinating company. I think my favourite bit is the welding sign - it's nice to see a company making a usually boring safety sign into something more memorable. It's awesome hat this raised money for charity as well as providing a cool backstage tour of Sally corp!

Ooh this is all getting very technical. What could possibly go wrong? I'm not sure I can do the potato thing because my flat is colder than the arctic and heating it would mean no TPR trips Beef wellington could be interesting - mostly because there's a ton of meat in it! But first - cake!

I would never have done that at her age!! Looks like she had a blast

I only just saw this but YES! I remember at Six Flags America we even had some kind of queue jump thing and it still took forever because the staff were on their phones and having personal conversations over the PA. You just got them impression that you were a hinderance on you day and was really frustrating.

^ I really like the third shot, not enough of the sit-dowm B&Ms have a tight twisting layout and you see it pretty well there!

If I remember correctly this was at the beginning of the trip. It was the most surreal start to a holiday I've ever experienced

^I love that last pic, for a second it looks like a triple corkscrew!

Wow, it's not often you see that Disney-level ability to make the ride match the concept art, it looks fantastic!

^Ha! I love those little coincidences. Is it sad this I still get a little excited when I see fun fair vehicles on the motorway even if I know I'm not going?

Great news that they're bringing the coaster back to its former glory. I had so much fun on this in 2009 and can't wait to ride it next year with all the new (old?) theming. The new flat for 2013 looks interesting - I'm always dubious of huge flats that looks really impressive as I find they're sometimes hugely underwhelming (topple tower...). Hopefully this proves me wrong!

^ Because someone's always out to make a quick buck Glad it's got the green light, can't wait to see pics of this going up. How many locals do we have that can keep us updated?

Much as I love the spinning videos (and it looks like you got some epic spinning going on with Derek!) I think the pregnant lady wins it! I love those random WTF?!? attractions at parks - it makes the place more unique

As Divv says I think I might have to re-create the student-licious "pan-cake" next. Always open to suggestions for potential kitchen mayhem. Feel free to post suggestions and I'll give them a try!

Nice! The megalites have such a great structure and led themselves to awesome photos. Shame it was overcast but some nice angles there Hanno