Matt Does West Coast 2009: Final Update!

[Speeddeamon128]

Day 0: LA area page 1

Pre Day: Hollywood, Venice Beach, Pacific Park & video page 1

Day 1 & 2: Bay Area Bash & video page 1

Day 3: Gilroy Gardens & Santa Cruz & pics page 2 & video page 3

Day 4: CGA pics & video page 3

Day 5: SFMM pics & video page 3

Day 6: USH, Scandia, & John's Incredible Pizza pics & video page 5

Day 7: Sea World San Diego & Belmont pics & video page 5

Day 8: Legoland California & Castle Park pics page 5 & video page 6

Day 9: Knott's Berry Farm & Adventure City pics & video page 6

Final Update: Disneyland Resort pics & video page 6

 

Day 0:

This year I was very glad to be a part of TPR's West Coast tour 2009. It was a fantastic trip with unforgettable memories. The Ert sessions were great, I rode 68 new credits, & I met a lot of awesome people & caught up with some old friends from the East Coast tour last year. I arrived on the 4th & to my surprise I met Jason (printersdevil78) on the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Since I had nothing planned that day he asked if I would like to go sight seeing with him. So before I knew it I was walking the streets in LA with an old friend from the Behemoth trip last year. We went to the La Brea Tar pits since it was free day along with the world famous Pinks hotdogs. I will try to do updates once a week! Enjoy the pics:

Pinks was good but the origional Nathan's of Coney Island in NYC is better. Tomorrow will be the pre-day of the trip!

There it is the world famous Pinks!

After the pits Jason & I headed into town. There were movie posters everywhere.

Me & the pits.

Yay Tar Pits!

The musuem had a bunch of fossils.

First stop was the La Brea Tar Pits!

[Jds03]

Awesome! First WCT TR.

 

I wish I had arrived early too. I was bored out of my mind waiting at the hotel on the 5th. I should have booked a flight for the 4th.

 

 

P.S. I haven't found your black WCT shirt. I only have mine.

[Speeddeamon128]

Pre-Day: Hollywood, Venice Beach, Pacific Park:

 

Today was the unofficial start of the trip! Most of us took a bus tour up to Hollywood & Beverly Hills. Also at night we rode the first credit of the trip. West Coaster at Pacific Park in Santa Monica! Enjoy the pics:

Ah the Pacific Ocean! I didn't take much pictures here because I was afraid of my camera getting stolen. Off to the first credit of the trip!

Our second stop of the day was the scary Venice Beach.

The famous Hollywood sign!

I totally want one of these costumes for Halloween!

There was a filming session going on for the new movie "Valentine's Day."

R.I.P. Micheal Jackson.

Including mine!

On the walk of fame there where many famous names.

The awesome Chinese Theatre!

Don't you love LA construction. One person is doing the work & three guys are standing around doing nothing.

Hollywood time!

See look there he goes lol!

It turned out to be Josh's!

There was an awesome Lambo in a parking lot!

Hey we are riding that ride on Friday!

Lunch at Beverly Hills was Subway!

A small section of Italy.

Beverly Hills!

Yay I'm finally back on a TPR tour bus! Mike Austin looks thrilled!

[Speeddeamon128]

Time for a new credit!

Some interesting disc shaped bumper cars. I don't think we don't have these on the East Coast.

This park has something Clementon Park needs. An accurate height checker before you enter the line as well as the ride's requirements!

Their pirate ship wasn't bad either.

They also had a fun frog hopper!

Probably the longest scrambler ever! I counted 2 minutes 30 seconds!

A pic from the station. I rode this 5x today!

Second helix.

Little drop.

The first helix.

It was a fun little morgan.

The West Coaster!

Here we are at Pacific Park!

First credit of the trip! Credit #224 for me!

[Speeddeamon128]

Here is the day conclusion & video:

 

Day Conclusion:

West Coaster:5x

 

Video:

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=pacificparkWCT09_NEW_f0s4[/coastertube]

[printersdevil78]

Wow, your tar pits and Hollywood sign photos came out a lot better than mine did! That first day was a lot of fun... if a lot of walking.

[Guest]

Matt, you should really come to Gadv next year. I'm switching depts. to rides and maybe you can land a spot on another rough woodie..Rolling Thunder!

[Speeddeamon128]

Day 1 CGA August 6, 2009:

 

Today was mainly a travel day. We had to pick up the people from SFO so we drove about 7 hours to Avatar Hotel by CGA. On the bus we watched the epic film Shark Attack 3! Also we did the snack exchange night. I didn't realize how close we were to CGA so two TPR's John, Mike, & myself headed over to CGA since we had CF Platinum Passes. We got 6 credits. Vortex, Demon, Invertigo, Psyco Mouse, Runaway Reptar, & Flight Deck. Flight Deck was my 230th credit! I didn't take pics since we were coming back on Sunday.

 

Day 2 Bay Area Bash August 7, 2009:

 

Today was the official start of West Coast 2009 with the full group! It was Bay Area Bash at SFDK! I have to say SFDK is probably the best themed & cleanest Six Flags park I've ever been to. The employees were really nice & the ert was great. We got to see some animals close up & morning ert on Medusa was awesome! Later in the day after lunch West Coast people got to go to the Jelly Belly factory. After the Jelly Belly Factory we had night ert on Roar, V2, & Tony Hawk. Tony Hawk was interesting. The park had a Tony Hawk's Big Spin challenge for us. The object was to hold a cup of water on the ride without covering it in any way & the winner won a prize! I spent most of my ert on V2 riding it 11x. Enjoy the pics & video:

The Tony Hawk Challenge was really wet! Two Bay Area Bash guys won it.

Time for some night ert!

My roomate & I paid a kid $1 to ride this!

Tony Hawk was ok.

After Jelly Belly I got the rest of the credits. The boomerangs in Cali weren't surprisingly that bad!

Yay for Jelly Beans!

After lunch West Coast people got to go to the Jelly Belly factory!

My roommate from Easr Coast last year Max attended!

Bay Area Bash!

Bas got an awesome shark hat!

Lunch time!

Only for the credit.

Roar was Ok.

V2 was AWESOME!

Thankfully it was the only SLC on the trip!

Time for a painful SLC.

It is way better than GADV's "Bizarro"

Medusa was fun!

Morning Medusa ert!

Tigers!

Aw little sea otter.

Yay camels!

Everyone is awake & ready for Bay Area Bash!

This looks like a fun skyline.

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Thanks for reading here is the Day Conclusion & video:

Day Conclusion:

Medusa=5x

Kong=1x

V2=11x

Roar=2x

Cobra=1x

Boomerang=1x

Tony Hawk's Big Spin=3x

Road Runner=2x

 

Video:

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=BayAreaBash_NEW_g98y[/coastertube]

[hyyyper]

I still can't believe you paid a kid to ride

 

And hurray for Sharkhat!

[Hercules]

Matt:

 

Nice report so far.

 

Those "disk" shaped bumper cars are similar to the ones that are at Dorney.

[Jds03]

Right as the opp was checking Matt's restraint the kid goes:

 

"Are you really going to give me a whole dollar, forreal?"

[Speeddeamon128]

^^Thanks I never knew

[jonlocke]

I didn't know you paid a kid. Josh and I just waited in line and told the two kids behind us that they needed to ride with an adult.

[Speeddeamon128]

^I never thought of that

[cazazoo]

Great report, your pics have awesome detail and clarity.

 

Looking forward to the rest of your report.

[U2Rox]

Thanks for posting Matt!!

 

It's Great to relive it all!!!

[hansrubens]

You stupid credit whores.....

 

Bloody Americans.

 

Thanks for putting up these weekly updates, looking forward to next wednesday.

 

----Hans

[rctneil]

Great report and video Matt.

 

Really enjoyed them and had a great time that day!

 

Tony Hawks Water Challenge was soo awesome!

 

Regards,

Neil

[Speeddeamon128]

Day 3 Part 1 Gilroy Gardens:

 

Day 3 was interesting. Our first park was Gilroy Gardens. We had morning ert on Quicksilver express which was the best mine train I've been on! It was not to long or not to short & I enjoyed the theme. After that we rode Apple & Worm the powered kiddie coaster. I'm still not sure if it is a credit so I'll count it as a bonus credit. Timberline Twister was my 240th credit & was a fun little kiddie. Apart from the coasters the park was really nice & clean. It had some unusual attractions like the onion tea cups & the mushroom swings. The antique cars were really cool themed. Nothing beats the rock maze take over! Also there were interesting shaped plants & trees. We had a nice lunch & the park treated us very nicely.

 

Day 3 Part 2 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:

 

So this was an interesting visit. After riding the Giant Dipper my phone's screen cracked & would not work anymore. I want to give a huge shout out to an old friend from the East Coast Trip John (forgot your screenname ) for driving me to the Verizon store so I could get a pay as you go phone. Thanks again dude you are awesome! So after the Giant Dipper phone incident I attempted to enjoy my day. We got to tour the Giant Dipper behind the scenes as well as under the carousel. I rode a few rides as well. So enjoy the pics & video from today: [/u][/u]

The dark rides were ok.

You broke my phone!

Another nerd shot!

Nerd shot!

Some Dipper pics.

We got to tour the Giant Dipper (not that I liked the ride very much).

Sea Serpent.

Thankfully John was local & met up with TPR & drove me to the Verizon store.

That is why!

I'm not a fan of this woodie.

This was intense!

We are ready for Hurricane & our second park of the day! SCBB!

TPR took over the rock maze after lunch!

Their antique car ride was very well themed.

Mushroom swings!

Waterfall!

Wait their lake is actually clean!

This park had interesting shaped trees.

Yay lunch!

Timberline Twister is a credit & my 240th credit!

Robb says this is a credit! I didn't count it.

This mine train was awesome! 6x in a row!

Yay for morning ert on Quicksilver!

Josh is ready to take on Gilroy!

[Speeddeamon128]

Thanks for reading here is the Day Conclusion & video:

 

Day Conclusion:

Quicksilver Express=6x

Timberline Twister=2x

Hurricane=2x

Giant Dipper=2x

Sea Serpent=2x

 

Video:

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=GilroySCBB_NEW_v1j2[/coastertube]

[Speeddeamon128]

Sorry for the "BIG" SFDK pics ealier last week. I accidently uploaded them too big to my computer so I fixed it.

[Jds03]

Lol, Nice update.

 

There is no way the Apple worm thing is a credit. I was considering it at the time but when I look back I realized it was ridiculous.

 

Ps. You didn’t discus the wildlife at Gilroy. Don’t you remember our Bird watching encounter?

[Paul_Hollibone]

How awesome was the wildlife at the park? Seriously the best I have EVER seen (especially at a Theme Park). Yeah, I might have whinged about you 2 credit whores getting the apple worm "credit", but on the other hand I was happy you guys did, gave me plenty of time to checkout the scenery and wildlife the park had to offer. Good times.

[ebl]

 

You didn't mention the leather belt that drives the lift chain! It's right near where you're standing. (I know that because I took a tour back in 1999 of the Giant Dipper.)

 

Eric