Photo TR: WCB 2010, plus a few USH pics

[Mechanic]

WCB rocked harder than ever before with Six Flags Magic Mountain outdoing themselves once again and a second day added at Knott's Berry Farm. Magic Mountain stepped it up with customized night time ERT including all operating coasters AND Racing Colossus AND a soundtrack on Terminator that was created especially for the event! This was, of course, in addition to morning ERT on several awesome coasters, a breakfast with drinks, donuts and muffins, multiple tours of backstage areas, a great lunch, a scavenger hunt, a management presentation, and an optional add-on dinner at the nicely themed and very relaxing Mooseburger lodge. As if all that wasn't enough, we were also given a voucher for a free photo!

 

Picking up our welcome packages went quickly and efficiently, with many familiar faces from the TPR website manning the tables and getting everyone hooked up with their swag. Many a TPR member donned their newly acquired WCB shirts, or the even more enviable Club TPR shirts, and the event began with Neal Thurman welcoming us, and then playing an early April fools joke by telling us that Revolution was going to be running for one day only with no OTSRs. (You got me on that one! You really did!) Anyone that may have been disappointed to find out Neal was joking was soon over it after they experienced TPR's version of ERT, which basically means you don't wait more than a train or 2, and usually you don't wait at all, even for rides like X2 and Tatsu.

 

My son and I had arrived early Friday morning after a long drive down from our home near Sacramento and had done a full day at USH the day before WCB, so being a little weary and needing to catch up on sleep, we ducked out on a few hours during the middle of the day and headed back to the hotel. I'm sure we missed out on some great fun during the day with the events planned, but we still had an awesome time. As a footnote to our little trip back to the hotel: I was fully aware that the free parking offer was only supposed to be for those arriving early for the event and fully expected to pay for parking upon our return. Imagine my surprise when we returned and the parking attendant who noticed my WCB lanyard and badge just waved us right through the gate and said, "Welcome back and have a great evening." Honestly, I had my wallet in my hand and was grabbing the money to pay, but he wouldn't have it. Little things like that really go a long way to making a customer appreciate how much they go out of their way for us at these events. Thank you Magic Mountain!

 

Sunday again started early and we were off on our way to Knott's Berry Farm. Picking up our event packages once again went very smoothly and before we knew it we were in the park and riding Monty, Jaguar, Boomerang (only once though) and Supreme scream. We mixed all of those in between our tours of the Railroad workshop and the Calico Mine Ride. I appreciate Knott's setting up the tours for us and I hope these can be expanded upon for future events. After ERT ended, and before the park got busy with regular guests, we got in a few rides on Pony Express (We took the tunnel!) and generally ambled around the ghost town area, taking in the theming and ambiance of the area as well as buying my son a customized belt at the leather goods shop and a few trinkets to bring home. Soon it was time for our lunch across the street in the picnic groves. Lunch was very good and the employees of KBF really did a good job of keeping people entertained with fun games. After lunch we walked to the nearby Independence hall exhibit, which I had never taken the opportunity to visit before. We really enjoyed the displays and the sense of real life American history in this beautiful building. We bought a few souvenirs to take home to family and friends and enjoyed the stories related to us by the nice lady working in the gift shop. If you have never visited this free attraction, I would strongly urge you to check it out.

 

It was now nearly time for the presentation in the Charles Schulz theatre, so we made our way back into the park. We did have a few minutes to spare so we took a quick spin on the bumper cars, which was fun. I went into the presentation mostly looking to rest my feet and enjoy the air conditioning. I sometimes have trouble staying awake through these things, but not this time. Right from the start, they had my attention and maintained it throughout. Jeff seems to be doing just fine in the theme park business, but if for some reason it doesn't work out, he won't have to worry as he'd have a bright future as a stand up comedian. His comedic timing and delivery are brilliant. It was refreshing to see just how in touch he was with the TPR forums as well. There were more than a few examples of him playing off of some of the running semi-inside jokes from TPR. Getting to hear about a new concept from S&S, as well as inside information about a haunt maze, and how it comes to be, were very nice touches. Everyone at KBF seemed genuinely engaged in and passionate about their work. They showed us a very good time and were well deserving of the applause they received. After picking up our free shirts, we finished off our night with a ride on Ghostrider where we got our complimentary on ride photos, then a few laps on Silver Bullet with no wait at all, and finally about 4 or 5 back to back cycles on Sierra Sidewinder before calling it a night.

 

Between the 2 days of WCB we ran into several people that we'd met and spoken with at previous events at SFMM and also from Bay Area Bash last year. We also got to meet a few people that seem so familiar to me from having seen them in so many trip reports and videos. I'd list each one, but I'd probably forget someone and end up feeling bad for excluding them, so instead I'll just say, "Hi again, and it was great to see you!" to everyone we ran into and spoke with. If you've read this far, then you're probably one of the few like me that actually reads all the stuff people write before getting on to the pictures, and I thank you.

 

Without further ado (because there's been plenty of ado), here are the pictures! I hope you enjoy them.

Our flight conveniently crashed right into the USH backlot.

This guy was there. And seriously, how many times have you seen this picture WITHOUT someone's head, arm, leg, or other body part in its mouth? That's right! Never! I want my originality points damnit!

Hello Terminator. Tomorrow at SFMM we'll be visiting a factory where some of your brothers were built.

Is it odd that I sort of wish Sideshow Bob would succeed with his sinister plans?

I think this counts as a credit.

Waterworld was a fun show. Too bad I only took pictures before the show started.

Riveting, isn't it?

Okay, okay... I promise, last non-action Waterworld picture. And this shall conclude my epic fail of not taking enough pictures at USH.

On to Magic Mountain! Although this picture was taken when we left, just pretend that we got there really early and the sun wasn't up yet, okay? Good. Thank you very much.

It's Batman logo: the ride!

Hello Terminator. Tomorrow at SFMM we'll be visiting a factory where some of your brothers were built.

Uh oh... Now he's all red! I think he's angry.

My son has been assimilated.

As have I! Oh, the horror!

Upon returning from our afternoon nap at the hotel, Colossus and Goliath were enjoying the sunset.

A trip to the dizzying heights of the Skytower yielded the following spectacular views.

Shur is purdy up here.

And so I conclude the SFMM portion of the pictures, once again realizing I took far too few. Well, at least far too few that came out as something identifiable. On to Sunday and KBF.

We took the tunnel, on foot even.

Backstage Glory Hole action.

Train parts, or medieval torture device? You decide.

Random axe on a train. I think it's placed here in case you decide to go on a random axe murdering spree. Unless someone else has a better reason, that's the story I'm sticking to.

The official Club TPR shirt: It's what all the cool kids are wearing this year.

As promised earlier, here's that Terminator factory tour.

The big announcement at Knott's was a new bobsled coaster. One of the ride vehicles had already arrived and was on display.

Waterfalls are so soothing, so I'll end this first post with one from Timber Mountain Log Ride. More pics from Knott's to follow soon.

Edited March 24, 2010 by Mechanic

[spaceace12]

 

Being not familier with USH, what is it? I figure they are escalators, but is that how you get to the park from parking?

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^No those escalators separate the lower lot of the park from the upper lot.

[Mechanic]

Okay, I actually did get a decent number of useable pictures from Knott's, so here are the rest of them. I hope you enjoy them.

After lunch we walked over and checked out the Independence Hall exhibit. Here's a replica of the Liberty Bell.

The lady in the gift shop was happy to answer any questions we had. She told us this was an actual antique carriage from the 1700s and not a reproduction. The Knott family purchased it in France and had it shipped over here where it was completely and beautifully restored. The Knotts rode to the opening ceremony and dedication of Independence Hall in this very carriage.

This is an antique desk displayed under glass at the exhibit. I didn't get many of the details on it, but it certainly is intricate.

Another antique desk on display.

This is the enemy.

This is how to identify the enemy. (Terminator would so totally kick this guy's ass)

"Hey baby, want to go get some chicken dinner across the street and see where things go from there? If not, it's ok. I could always go check out the Glory Hole, if you know what I mean." - wink, wink -

Insert random cock joke here.

Actual Ghostrider on ride picture. Just kidding. For the first time ever, Ghostrider didn't physically injure me. While it's not butter-smooth, it's improved over the last few times I rode it a year or so ago.

I think this guy wrote the screenplay for the movie, "2012". Or something like that.

Okay, at this point I'm just kind of randomly adding pictures in no particular order.

Here is another of the park's locomotives. Hey, loco and motives... Hmm, maybe that has something to do with the axe on board? Axe murderers pretty much have "loco motives", right? Okay, I know that sucked. Just shoot me now.

I now present.... The backside of water! Oh, wait, wrong park.

Ye Olde school house in ghost town. And no, they didn't spell it "olde", or use the word "ye". I just added those for effect.

I had to try this bench just to see if it was as uncomfortable as it looked. It was. I'm sending Knott's a bill for the ointment I had to buy as a result.

Native American stereotype perpetuated? Check. Hey, at least he didn't have a bottle of "firewater" in his hand.

Xcelerator's new trains look great. More realistic than ever.

For no particular reason, I'll end with a couple pictures I forgot to add earlier from SFMM. This is a troll, and some mascot in a furry costume.

Another troll, with the same mascot. Thanks for viewing the thread and see you all again at next year's WCB!

[Mechanic]

 

Being not familier with USH, what is it? I figure they are escalators, but is that how you get to the park from parking?

 

As TTD indicated, the escalators provide a convenient way to travel between the upper and lower lots at USH. What's shown in the picture is only a couple segments of the 5 (if I remember right) seperate sections of escalators that make up what they call the "StarWay". It actually is something of an attraction in itself with very nice views of the surrounding area. I'm sure glad the escalators are there because walking up stairs to make the trip wouldn't be any fun at all.

[J man]

Loved the wooden log bench picture! I saw it also and went through the same exact thought process. It was very uncomfortable and I regret ever sitting on it.